US3601903A

US3601903A - Tumbler dryer

Info

Publication number: US3601903A
Application number: US39976A
Authority: US
Inventors: Benjamin H Freze
Original assignee: Challenge Cook Bros Inc
Current assignee: CHALLENGE INDUSTRIES LP
Priority date: 1970-05-25
Filing date: 1970-05-25
Publication date: 1971-08-31
Anticipated expiration: 1988-08-31
Also published as: JPS5131528B1; DE2124456A1; DE2124456B2; GB1291405A; DE2124456C3; FR2093705A5; CA927592A

Abstract

A tumbler dryer which includes a cylindrical housing having an opening at each end and arranged to be tilted selectively in opposite directions so that either opening may serve as an inlet or outlet for clothes. The dryer also includes a perforated cylindrical rotatable drum having conical ends confronting the ends of the housing. The dryer further includes a hot air supply system that introduces a predetermined percentage of hot air into the top of the drum and the remaining air equally into the conical ends of the drum; the air being extracted from the bottom side of the drum.

Description

United States Patent Inventor Benjamin H. Freze Stanton, Calif. [21] Appl. No. 39,976 [22] Filed May 25, 1970 [45] Patented Aug. 31, 1971 [73] Assignee Challenge-Cook Br0s., incorporated [54] TUMBLER DRYER 14 Claims, 19 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 34/133 [51] Int. Cl F26b 11/02 [50] Field ofSearch "34/133,139

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,067,986 12/1962 Grantham 34/133 X 3,121,000 2/1964 Hubbard 3,419,969 1/1969 Freze ABSTRACT: A tumbler dryer which includes a cylindrical housing having an opening at each end and arranged to be tilted selectively in opposite directions so that either opening may serve as an inlet or outlet for clothes. The dryer also includes a perforated cylindrical rotatable drum having conical ends confronting the ends of the housing. The dryer further includes a hot air supply system that introduces a predetermined percentage of hot air into the top of the drum and the remaining air equally into the conical ends of the drum; the air being extracted from the bottom side ofthe drum.

PATENTEU M1831 I971 SHEET u or 7 Fla INVHNTUR.

TUMIBLER DRYER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention is related to my previous U.S. Pat. No. 3,419,969 which discloses a tumbler dryer in which an essen tially cylindrical housing receives an essentially cylindrical drum or tumbler for rotation about an axis at right angles to the axis of the housing. This arrangement permits ready tilting of the tumbler drum by rotating the housing about its axis and also permits the doors of the housing to pivot about the axis of the housing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed toa tumbler dryer which is particularly adapted, but not limited, to tumbler dryers of large capacity, and is summarized in the following objects:

First, to provide a tumbler dryer wherein the housing and the rotatable tumbler drum are essentially coaxial; the housing is provided with openings at each axial end and is tiltable about either of two axes disposed adjacent its ends so that clothes may be received or discharged from either end.

Second, to provide a tumbler dryer wherein the ends of the tumbler drum extend to the outlet openings so that the entire peripheral area between the openings rotates to ensure that the entire contents are tumbled.

Third, to provide a tumbler dryer, as indicated in the preceding objects, wherein the ends of the tumbler drum are conical and perforated and hot air supply ducts within the housing extend to the ends of the housing above the conical ends of the tumbler drum for direct introduction of hot air therein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of the tumbler dryer, shown in its operating position.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view, taken from the side opposite from FIG. ll.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side view, corresponding to FIG. 1;. but showing the dryer in one of its tilted positions for the pur-- pose of receiving a charge of material to be dried.

FIG. 4. is a fragmentary side view, corresponding to FIG. 3. showing the dryer in one of its tilted positions for the purpose of discharging its contents.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the tumbler drum, indicating the supporting and guide wheels therefore, the housing and base of the tumbler dryer shown by broken lines.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken within Circle 6 of FIG. 5, showing particularly that portion of the tumbler drum through which hot air is introduced and showing fragmentarily a tumbler rib.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged end elevational view of the tumbler dryer, taken from 7-7 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a further enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken through 8-8 of FIG. 7, showing one of the door latching mechanisms.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view, taken through 9-9 of FIG. 5, showing the tumbler drum in end elevation and the surrounding housing and base portion of the dryer partially in section and partially in elevation.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken within Circle 10 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged transverse sectional view, with the base structure shown fragmentarily, taken through ll-of FIG. 2.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken within Circle 12 ofFIG. 9.

FIG. 13 is a further enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken through 13-13 of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view, taken through 14-14 ofFIG. ll.

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view, taken through 15-15 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary partialplan, partial sectional view, taken through 16-16 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken from 17-17 of FIG. 14.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken within Circle 18 of FIG. 16.

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken through 19- 19 of FIG. 18.

The tumbler dryer includes a fixed base frame structure II, which is generally rectangular in plan, and includes an extension 2 at one side. Above the extension the base frame structure is provided with a pair of pivot brackets 3. At the opposite side of the frame structure 1, there is provided a second pair of pivot brackets 4. I

The base frame structure 1 supports a tilting base frame 5, which is essentially rectangular in plan. The tilting base frame is provided with a pair of pivot bars 6 which mate with the pivot brackets 3 and a pair of pivot bars 7 which mate with the pivot brackets 4. The mating pivot brackets and pivot bars form separable hinges so that either end of the base frame may be raised from one set of brackets and pivot bars while the tiltable base frame is pivoting about the axis defined by the other set of pivot brackets and pivot bars. With this arrangement the base frame 5 may be tilted in either direction, as 'illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Mounted in the base frame adjacent the side having the extension 2 is a pair of lifting units 8, which serve to tilt the frame 5 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 4. Adjacent the opposite side of the fixed base frame structure 1 is a lifting unit 9 which functions to tiltthe base frame 5 in the manner illus' trated in FIG. 2.

Supported on the tilting base frame 5 is a housing 10 of generally cylindrical form, disposed with its axis transverse to the axes defined by the pivot brackets and pivot bars. The housing 10 includes end walls I1, having central openings 12 which are circular except for a straight or chord portion at their lower sides.

Mounted within the housing is a tumbling drum 13, including a cylindrical main portion formed by a plurality of perforated bands 14,'separated by reinforcing rings 15. At the axial extremities of thecylindrical portion, the drum is pro vided with a pair of circular drive and supporting tracks 16. Beyond the tracks 16, the tumbling drum converges forming conical end bands 17, terminating in end rings 18.

The tumbling drum is supported by two pair of drive wheels 19, each pair mounted on a shaft 20. The drive wheels extend through slots provided in the housing 10. The shafts 20 are located externally of the housing and are journaled in bearings 21 supported from the tilting base frame 5. The shafts 20 are connected by sprocket and chain drives 22, to a common gear reduction unit 23, which is joined by a belt drive 24 to a motor 25.

The axiallyouter sides of the tracks 16 are engaged by end thrust wheels 26 supported from reinforcing members 27, forming a part of the housing structure.

The upper portion of the housing structure 10 is partially encased by and forms the inner wall of a semicircular hot air duct 28. At one side of the housing structure the hot air duct extends tangentially downward and forms an entrance portion 29, the lower end of which confronts a hot air supply means 30, which may include the burner or other heating unit, not shown, and which is supplied with ambient air from an inlet duct 31. The hot air supply means is fixed in the base frame structure 1. When the tumbler dryer is in its operating position, such as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the entrance portion 29 is spaced from the hot air supply means forming an auxiliary air inlet 32.

The housing structure 10 is provided at its upper side with a longitudinal slot 33 for the purpose of supplying a predetermined portion of the hot air passing in the duct 23 into the upper side of the tumbling drum 13, as shown best in FIGS. 11 and 16.

The arcuate upper portion of the hot air duct extends axially with respect to the housing and forms semicircular radially inwardly directed inlet slots 34 which communicate with dis-' tributor chambers 35 located between the housing and the conical end bands 17 of the tumbler drum 13, as shown par-- ticularly in FIGS. 9, 15, 16 and 18. The perforated conical end bands 17 form moving radially inner walls of the distributor chambers and the circumferential extremities of the chambers are defined by end partitions 36 supported from the housing 10 and extending inwardly into confronting relation with the tumbling drum. Two sets of partitions are provided and extend from end to end of the housing, their radially inner margins conforming to the tumbling drums. The portions of the partitions which form'the ends of the distributor chambers are provided with seal strips 37 which ride on the conical surfaces of the end bands 17, as indicated particularly in FIGS. 18 and 19.

The lower portions of the end walls 11 bordering the openings 12 are provided with end seals 37a extending between the partitions 36, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18. The seals bear against the end rings 18 of the tumbler drum 13. Also extending between the end partitions 36 around the lower portion of the housing and tumbler drum is a pair of semicircular seals 38 secured to the housing and bearing yieldably against the axial extremities of the supporting tracks 16, as illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13.

Mounted within the fixed base frame structure 1 is a laterally directed discharge duct 39, having an upwardly directed intake end 40 confronting the lower side of the housing 10 at its central portion. Formed at the lower side of the housing 10 is'a discharge chamber 41 of rectangular configuration, the opposite walls of which converge downwardly and register with the intake end 40, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 14. The upper margins of the circumferential sides of the discharge chamber 41 are provided with barrier strips 42 of flexible material of which yieldably engage the and conform to the tumbler drum 13. These barriers extend to the seals 38 and are indicated particularly in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11.

The tumbling drum 13 is provided with a set of longitudinal ly extending major internal ribs 43, interspersed by minor internalribs 44 to produce a tumbling action. At their extremities, within the regions which receive the main portion of the hot air, the major internal ribs 43 are provided with radially inwardly directed extensions 45 which cooperate with the conical end bands 17 to work the contents of the tumbler drum axially inward, and also to keep the perforations in the bands free so that incoming air from the distributor chambers 35 will not be impeded.

The openings 12 are closed by doors 46. Each door includes

complementary door sections

47, 48 and 49 joined by hinges 50 which incorporate seals 51, Also, each door is provided with a peripheral seal 52.

The upper door section is provided with an upward extension 53, the upper extremity of which receives a pivot bar 54 supported from the corresponding end wall 11 by bearing brackets 55. The pivot bar extends laterally and its extreme end is supported by a third bearing bracket 56. Connected to the extreme end of the pivot bar is a link 57 which is joined to a lever 58 supported intermediate its ends by a second link 59. The second link is supported on a pivot bracket 60 mounted on a bar 61 extending longitudinally across and supported by the outer wall of the hot air duct 18, as indicated particularly in FIG. 1 through 4 and 7.

The mounting bar 61 supports a pair of thrust units 62, one for each door. Each thrust unit includes a cylinder 63 supported on the mounting bar by means of a pivot bracket 64 and an extension shaft 65 attached to a corresponding lever 58.

The dimensions of the

links

57 and 59 and the lever 58 as well as the upward extension 53 are such that on pivoting, the upper section 47 of the door between its closed position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and its raised position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is pivoted 180 and its hinged connection with the central section 48 is raised sufficiently that both the central section and bottom section depending therefrom clear the upper margin of the door opening.

The lower corners of the central door section 48 of each door are provided with essentially radially outwardly extending keeper plates 66. Each keeper plate is engaged by a latch element 67 pivotally connected to a mounting bar 68 secured to the corresponding end wall 11. Each latch element is connected by an adjustable link 69 to a lever 70, which in turn is connected to an operating unit 71 which includes a cylinder 72 secured to the backside of the corresponding end wall 11 radially outward from the housing 10 and a shaft 73, the shaft being attached to the lever 70.

Operation of the tumbler dryer is as follows:

During the drying operation, the housing 10 and the tumbling drum 13 are disposed in a horizontal position, as represented in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the doors are secured in their closed position. Hot air is generated in the supply chamber 30 by a suitable burner or heater unit, now shown. The air passes upwardly therefrom into the tangential portion 29 of the hot air duct 28. Auxiliary air enters through the inlet 32 and is entrained in the air passing upwardly from the supply chamber 30. The hot air is carried over the top portion of the housing. A predetermined portion of the air is delivered into the tumbling drum 18 through the longitudinal slot 33 and the remaining hot air is delivered through the inlet slots 35 and distributor chambers 35 into the perforated conical end bands 17 of the tumbler drum. The air discharges from the lower portion of the tumbler drum between the barrier strips 42 and passes through the discharge chamber 41 into the discharge duct 39.

During rotation of the tumbling drum, the clothes or other contents of the tumbler dryer tend to be worked from the axial ends towards the central portion of the drum. Also, some counter-migration of the articles being dried occurs so that each article is completely exposed to the circulating hot air. More particularly, the extended end portions of the major tumbling ribs 43 prevent the articles from restricting the flow of air from the distributor chambers 35 into the tumbling dryer even though the dryer is loaded excessively.

By reason of the fact that either end of the tumbler dryer may be raised, the tumbler dryer may be adapted to any desired loading and unloading procedure; for example, the dryer may be loaded and unloaded from one end by tilting the dryer between the position shown in FIGS. 3-and 4 in which case only one door is used. Or, the dryer may be tilted to either position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in which case, the lower most door is first opened to permit discharge of the contents; then, this door is closedand the door at the raised side of the tumbler is opened to receive a new charge of clothing or the like.

While a particular embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it is not intended to limit the same to the details of the construction set forth, but instead, the invention embraces such changes, modifications and equivalents of the various parts and their relationships as come within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A tumbler dryer, comprising:

a. a housing including parallel ends having coaxial inlet-outlet openings and doors therefor;

b. a perforated cylindrical tumbler drum disposed for rotation in coaxial relation to the openings, the tumbler drum including end portions terminating at the peripheries of the openings;

c. a hot air inlet chamber above and immediately inward of each opening, each inlet chamber having a movable wall formed by the perforated end portion of the tumbler;

d. a hot air supply duct communicating with the chambers for the introduction of hot air into the extreme ends of the tumbler drum;

e. and an air outlet chamber under the central portion of the tumbler drum having a moving wall formed by the perforated central portion of the tumbler drum.

2. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a. said inlet duct includes an air inlet slit disposed along the top side of the tumbler drum forthe introduction of a predetermined portion of air distributed along the top side thereof.

3. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a. the perforated end portions of the tumbler drum are conical and converge axially outward therefrom.

4. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 1, which further comprises:

a. a set of axial extending tumbler ribs within the tumbler drum extending to the margins of the inlet-outlet openings selected ribs in the region of hot air inlet having radially inward extensions tending to deflect the contents of the tumbler drum onto the conical portions thereof for further deflection toward the center of the tumbler drum.

5. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 1, wherein each of the doors closing the inlet-outlet openings comprises:

a. an upper door section;

b. at least one complementary door section hinged to the lower margin of the upper door section;

c. means for rotating the upper door section between a lower position wherein the door sections occupy a closed position and an upper positionwherein the door sections are disposed above the door opening; 7

d. and means for securing the door sections in their closed position.

6. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 1, which further comprises:

a. a fixed base structure;

b. a first set of separable pivot means located under one end of the housing;

c. a second set of separable pivot means located under the other end of the housing;

d. said separable pivot means including elements carried by the base structure and the housing;

e. and a thrust means for tilting the housing in opposite directions.

7. A tumbler dryer, comprising:

a. a base frame;

b. a generally cylindrical housing;

c. cooperating separable pivot elements defining transverse axes located near the axial ends of the housing and corresponding portions of the base frame;

. thrust units carried by the base frame and connected to the housing to effect selective pivotal movement of the housing about either of the transverse axes;

. a cylindrical tumbler drum perforated end-to-end and disposed in substantially coaxial relation with the housmeans engaging the periphery of the tumbler drum to effect rotation of the drum within the housing;

. inletoutlet doors at each axial end of the housing confronting the ends of the tumbler drum;

. hot air inlet chambers at the upper portion of the housing and adjacent the axial extremities thereof communicating directly with the perforated end portions of the tumbler drum;

. means for supplying hot air to the chambers for introduction into the tumbler drum at each end thereof;

j. and hot air outlets centrally located at the under side of the housing and confronting the central perforated portion of the tumbler drum.

8. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 7, wherein:

a. the perforated end portions of the tumbler drum which receive the hot air are conical and diverge toward the central region of the drum.

9. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 8, which further comprises:

a. a set of axially disposed tumbler ribs within the tumbler drum extending into the conical portions to aid the conical portions to effect movement of the contents of the dryer toward the central region o'fthe tumbler drum away from the inlet-outlet doors. 10. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 7, wherein each of the doors comprises:

c. and means for latching the door sections in their closed positions.

11. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 7, wherein:

a. the hot air supply means includes an upwardly directed hot air supply fixed in the base frame below one side of the housing;

b. and a hot air duct carried by the housing extending upwardly from the hot air supply and partially wrapping the housing, the entrance end of the hot air duct being spaced from the supply to permit entrainment of surrounding air, the duct being tiltable with the housing away from the hot air supply.

12. A tumbler dryer, comprising:

a. a tumbler drum including a perforated cylindrical main portion, and at least one perforated end portion of reduced diameter to receive air radially therein for axial flow into the drum;

7 b. a housing enclosing the drum including the ends thereof and having means for rotating the drum about its longitudinal axis;

c. means defining an air inlet duct for delivery of air radially into the perforated end portion of the drum;

d. means'defining an air outlet for extracting air from the main portion of the drum;

e. and an access door mounted in an end of the housing confronting a reduced end portion ofthe drum.

13. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 12, which further comprises:

a. means for tilting the housing and drum about at least one transverse axis for loading and unloading the drum.

14. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 12, wherein:

a. perforated reduced end portions are provided at both ends of the drum;

b. and air inlet ducts extend to both end portions, whereby air flows from both end portions axially toward the center of the drum.

Claims

1. A tumbler dryer, comprising: a. a housing incluDing parallel ends having coaxial inlet-outlet openings and doors therefor; b. a perforated cylindrical tumbler drum disposed for rotation in coaxial relation to the openings, the tumbler drum including end portions terminating at the peripheries of the openings; c. a hot air inlet chamber above and immediately inward of each opening, each inlet chamber having a movable wall formed by the perforated end portion of the tumbler; d. a hot air supply duct communicating with the chambers for the introduction of hot air into the extreme ends of the tumbler drum; e. and an air outlet chamber under the central portion of the tumbler drum having a moving wall formed by the perforated central portion of the tumbler drum.

2. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. said inlet duct includes an air inlet slit disposed along the top side of the tumbler drum for the introduction of a predetermined portion of air distributed along the top side thereof.

3. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. the perforated end portions of the tumbler drum are conical and converge axially outward therefrom.

4. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 1, which further comprises: a. a set of axial extending tumbler ribs within the tumbler drum extending to the margins of the inlet-outlet openings selected ribs in the region of hot air inlet having radially inward extensions tending to deflect the contents of the tumbler drum onto the conical portions thereof for further deflection toward the center of the tumbler drum.

5. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 1, wherein each of the doors closing the inlet-outlet openings comprises: a. an upper door section; b. at least one complementary door section hinged to the lower margin of the upper door section; c. means for rotating the upper door section between a lower position wherein the door sections occupy a closed position and an upper position wherein the door sections are disposed above the door opening; d. and means for securing the door sections in their closed position.

6. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 1, which further comprises: a. a fixed base structure; b. a first set of separable pivot means located under one end of the housing; c. a second set of separable pivot means located under the other end of the housing; d. said separable pivot means including elements carried by the base structure and the housing; e. and a thrust means for tilting the housing in opposite directions.

7. A tumbler dryer, comprising: a. a base frame; b. a generally cylindrical housing; c. cooperating separable pivot elements defining transverse axes located near the axial ends of the housing and corresponding portions of the base frame; d. thrust units carried by the base frame and connected to the housing to effect selective pivotal movement of the housing about either of the transverse axes; e. a cylindrical tumbler drum perforated end-to-end and disposed in substantially coaxial relation with the housing; f. means engaging the periphery of the tumbler drum to effect rotation of the drum within the housing; g. inlet-outlet doors at each axial end of the housing confronting the ends of the tumbler drum; h. hot air inlet chambers at the upper portion of the housing and adjacent the axial extremities thereof communicating directly with the perforated end portions of the tumbler drum; i. means for supplying hot air to the chambers for introduction into the tumbler drum at each end thereof; j. and hot air outlets centrally located at the under side of the housing and confronting the central perforated portion of the tumbler drum.

8. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 7, wherein: a. the perforated end portions of the tumbler drum which receive the hot air are conical and diverge toward the central region of the drum.

9. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 8, which further comprises: a. a set oF axially disposed tumbler ribs within the tumbler drum extending into the conical portions to aid the conical portions to effect movement of the contents of the dryer toward the central region of the tumbler drum away from the inlet-outlet doors.

10. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 7, wherein each of the doors comprises: a. three complementary door sections connected by horizontally disposed hinges; b. means pivotally connecting the uppermost door section for movement between a downwardly directed closed position and an upwardly directed open position, the remaining door sections depending from the uppermost door section and movable thereby between a lower closed position and a raised open position; c. and means for latching the door sections in their closed positions.

11. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 7, wherein: a. the hot air supply means includes an upwardly directed hot air supply fixed in the base frame below one side of the housing; b. and a hot air duct carried by the housing extending upwardly from the hot air supply and partially wrapping the housing, the entrance end of the hot air duct being spaced from the supply to permit entrainment of surrounding air, the duct being tiltable with the housing away from the hot air supply.

12. A tumbler dryer, comprising: a. a tumbler drum including a perforated cylindrical main portion, and at least one perforated end portion of reduced diameter to receive air radially therein for axial flow into the drum; b. a housing enclosing the drum including the ends thereof and having means for rotating the drum about its longitudinal axis; c. means defining an air inlet duct for delivery of air radially into the perforated end portion of the drum; d. means defining an air outlet for extracting air from the main portion of the drum; e. and an access door mounted in an end of the housing confronting a reduced end portion of the drum.

13. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 12, which further comprises: a. means for tilting the housing and drum about at least one transverse axis for loading and unloading the drum.

14. A tumbler dryer, as defined in claim 12, wherein: a. perforated reduced end portions are provided at both ends of the drum; b. and air inlet ducts extend to both end portions, whereby air flows from both end portions axially toward the center of the drum.