US2517421A - Gas drier - Google Patents

Description

' P. E. GELDHOF Aug. 1, 1950 GAS DRIER s Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 10, 1946 fizz E171??? Pel'er'E'dualu'eldliaf Ooooooooooodoooooooo Aug. 1, 1950 P. E. GELDHOF ,5

GAS DRIER Filed June 10, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2- Patented Aug. 1, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAS DRIER Peter Eduard Geldhof, St. Joseph, Mich, minor to Nineteen Hundred Corporation, St. Joseph. Micln, a corporation of New York Application June 10, 1946, Serial No. 875,537

14 Claims.

This invention relates to a gas drier, and more particularly to a small, compact unitary clothes and article drier of the type which is suitable for ordinary household use in conjunction with any laundry machine or washing apparatus and which derives its heat from a gas burner within the device.

One type of clothes drier for household use includes a rotating drum through which heated air is circulated.

It is one of the principal features and objects of the present invention to provide a novel clothes drier of this general category which gives greatly improved results with a minimum expenditure of energy.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide novel means for heating and circulating air in a clothes or article drier.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a horizontally rotating drumtype drier having novel structural features and air heating means.

Another and further object of the present invention is to provide novel air heating means for a clothes or other article drier in which the products of a combustion burner are utilized to heat the air which circulates over the clothes or other articles.

Another and still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel clothes drier having heating means of the air tube heater class.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, both as to its organization, manner of construction. and methodof operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the acompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of the front of a clothes drier embodying the novel features and principles of the. present invention;

Figure 2 is an isometric view of the rear of the clothes drier shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the clothes drier as taken along the line III-III of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a rear vertical sectional view of the clothes drier as taken along the line IV-IV of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a still further enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the heating means of the clothes drier as taken along the line V-V of Figure 3.

The clothes drier Hi illustrated in the various figures of the drawings is of the size commonly employed for household use and includes a cabinet ll having a clothes door I2 mounted in the front wall thereof. A plurality of air intake holes II for the air which is to be circulated over the clothes are provided in the rear wall of the cabinet ll, while the door 12 is provided with louvers ll for permitting escape of the air after it has passed over the clothes.

As may be seen best in Figure 3 of the drawings, a rotating drum I5 is mounted within the cabinet H for rotation about a horizontal axis and is arranged to be driven by a motor it through belt drives l1 and II in a manner presently to be described.

The cabinet ll of the drier it is provided with an opening in the front wall thereof opposite the drum l5 as defined by a circular flange It. The drum l5 has an imperforate peripheral wall 2|, a rear wall 2! and a forward wall 22.. The forward wall 22 has a central opening therein which is defined by a forwardly turned lip or flange 22. This forwardly turned lip or flange 23 of the drum I5 is disposed radially outwardly of the flange II. In order to provide a seal between the open end of the drum is and the front wall of the cabinet II, the flange 23 carries a felt ring 24 which is secured to the flange 23 in any suitable manner such as by angle clips 2!. As may be seen in Figure 3, the felt ring 24 extends beyond the forward end of the flange 22 into engagement with an offset shoulder 26 in the front wall of the cabinet II.

It will thus be understood that while the drum I5 rotates with respect to the cabinet I II, a reasonably good air seal is provided between. the opening in the front wall 22 of the drum is and the front wall of the cabinet II.

The door I2 is mounted on concealed hinges (not shown) which may be of any suitable form. and is arranged to be seated on the offset shoulder 26. This enables the outer face of the door I2 to lie substantially flush with the front wall 21 of the cabinet II.

The door l2 in addition to the grilled front I4 is provided with a perforated rear panel 2| which is removably secured by bayonet pins 2| to a rearwardly extending flange 20 on the door l2. Removably mounted on spring fingers II in the space between the grill I4 and the perforated rear panel 22 is a screen 32 which separates lint and dust from the air before it is ejected back into the room.

The rear wall 2| of the drum I5 is provided with a relatively large central opening as defined by the rearwardly turned flange 33. Mounted in this opening is a screen or perforated panel member 34, the member 34 being provided with a rearwardly turned peripheral flange 35 for nested engagement with the flange 33. As will presently be pointed out, heated air is passed through the perforated rear panel member 34, then through the drum I and finally out through the clothes door I2.

Before the heating and air circulating means is described in detail, reference will be made to the manner in which the drum I5 is supported and rotated. Referring particularly to Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, the drum I5 is mounted on a pedestal 36 which is in the form of an upstanding tubular member 31 secured to a pair of diverging legs 36. The diverging legs 38 are made of a single channel-shaped bracket which is wrapped around the tubular member 31 and welded or otherwise suitably secured thereto. In addition to the pair of diverginglegs 38, an additional pair of legs is provided by a plate member 39 which extend laterally from the post 31. This plate 39 is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the post 31. It will thus be undenstood from this description that the legs 38 and 39 provide a rigid base for the rotating assembly, it being observed in particular that the legs 38 extend out well beneath the drum I5.

A bearing support sleeve 46 is seated on the top of the post 31, the latter being cut away so as to fit snugly around a portion of the sleeve 46. The sleeve 46 may be welded or otherwise suitably secured to the top of the post 31.

Within the tubular sleeve 46 is disposed a bearing sleeve 4|.

The rotating drum I5 is provided with a frame or spider across its rear wall 2| which is in the form of three radially extending supporting arms 42, 43 and 44. These arms 42, 43 and 44 are secured to a hub 45 which, in turn, is mounted on and secured to a shaft 46. The shaft 46 extends rearwardly from the hub 45 through the bearing sleeve 4| to a point in close proximity to the rear wall 41 of the cabinet II. The rear portion of the shaft 46 is of slightly reduced diameter and has secured on its outer end a drive pulley 48. Between the bearing support- .ing sleeve 46 and the pulley 48 is a fan hub 49 which includes a pulley portion 56' having a V-groove in its outer peripheral surface for receiving the belt I1. The fan hub 49 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 46, and if desired, a suitable lubricating ring 5| may be provided. The fan hub 49 includes a plurality of radially extending fan blades 52. These fan blades 52 are so shaped that upon rotation thereof in a predetermined direction, air is drawn in through the openings I3 in the rear wall 41 of the cabinet II and circulated forwardly.

The motor I6 is mounted in a bracket 53 on the floor 54 of the cabinet II., The armature shaft 55 of the motor I6 has a drive pulley 56 secured thereon in another bracket or pedestal 51. An intermediate pulley 58 is rotatably mounted on a stub shaft 59 which, in turn, is secured by a nut 66 to the pedestal 51. The pulley member 58 includes a pulley portion 6| of relatively large dimeter and a pulley portion 62 of relatively small diameter. The pulley portion 6| of the intermediate pulley member 58, the pulley portion 56 of the fan hub 49, and the motor drive pulley 56 all lie in the same plane and have the drive belt I1 tightly secured therearound as may be seen in Figure 4 of the drawings. The pulley portion 62 of the pulley member 58 and the drum drive pulley 48 lie in the same plane and have the belt II secured tightly therearound (as may be seen in Figure 4).

From the relationship of the pulleys, it will be apparent that with the motor I6 driven at one speed, the drum I5 is rotated at low speed while the fan 52 is rotated at high speed.

The particular shape and form of the arms 42, 43 and 44 which form the supporting spider for the drum I5 forms no part of the present invention, and for that reason will not be described in detail. As shown, they are made up of sheet metal parts. The interior of the drum I5 is provided 'with three radially inwardly extending ribs which are U-shape in transverse cross-section. These ribs 63 are provided for causing clothes or other articles to be tumbled in the drum I5 upon rotation of the drum I5 by the motor I6.

One of the principal features of novelty of the present invention lies in the manner in which the air is heated and. circulated. As may be seen best in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, a gas heater 64 is mounted on legs 65 which extend upwardly from the base plate 54 of the cabinet II. The heater 64 includes a casting 66 having a combustion chamber 61. Rising from the combustion chamber 61 in the casting 66 is an inverted U-shaped heating chamber 68, transversely through which a large number of air pipes 69 extend (see Figures 3 and 5). The U-shaped chamber portion 68 is closed at its end 16 which is removed from the combustion chamber 61. A baflle plate H is formed to divide a portion of the chamber 68 into two parts, and in effect, is.designed to cause the gases of combustion from the combustion chamber 61 to pass completely around the inverted C-shaped chamber 68 and then back up in a reverse path portion 12 before they pass out the flue or stack 13.

In order to improve the draft, a hole 14 is preferably provided through the baffle immediately opposite the lower end of the stack 13.

A gas burner 15 is mounted in the lower part of the combustion chamber 61. This burner 15 may be of any conventional gas burner type and is under the control of a manually operated gas valve control shaft 16 which extends through the side wall 11 of the housing II. An air hole 18 is provided in the wall 11 immediately above the .control shaft 16, and an air hole 19 is provided in the casting 66 opposite the air hole 18 in the housing II. The air heating tubes 69 are the tubes through which the air is forced by the fan 52 into the rotating drum I5. As the air passes through the tubes 69, it is heated so that hot air is blown into the drum I5.

In order to further assist in the heating operation, and in order'to take the heat from the flue gases, the casting 66 is provided with a large number of fins 86 around the outer surface of the U, and a plurality of fins 8| are provided around the exterior surface of the inner side of the U. These fins 86 and 8| are enclosed at their outer ends by a shroud member 82 which is secured to the casting 66 by screws 83 and 84. These flns 86 and II, in conjunction with the shroud member 82, provide additional air passageways through which air driven by the fan 52 may pass to the drum I5.

illwtion with the air circulating means, provides eflicient method and construction for heating and directing it through the rotating drum of a clothes drier. It further provides a structure which is economical to manufacture and which is mailed and reliable in use.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention, it will, of course, be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto, since many modifications may be made, and I, therefore. contemplate by the appended claims to cover allsuch modifications as fall within the true spirit of-my invention.

Iclaim as my invention:

1-, In an article drier including a support and a drum rotatably mounted on said support and having ends through which air may circulate, the improvement which comprises an air tube furnace mounted opposite one end of said drum, said furnace including a large number of tubular air passageways extending therethrough in a directlon substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of said drum and having one end of said being located in close proximity to said drum and at least in part opposite the opening in one of said end walls. a plurality of open-ended tubes extending transversely through said flue in the region where said flue lies opposite the opening in said one end of said drum, and means for circulating air through said tubes and then through said drum.

6. In an article drier including a support and a drum rotatably mounted on said support, havpassageways disposed in close proximity to and teriorly of said furnace, said tubes being disposed substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of said drum having open ends in close proximity to and facing one end of said drum, and means for circulating air through said tubes and then through said drum.

3. In an article drier including a support and a drum rotatably mounted on said support and having openings in the ends thereof, the improvement which comprises a heating unit including a burner and a stack for conducting the combustion gases away therefrom, said heating unit including a plurality of passageways extending transversely through said stack and opening only exteriorly of said stack, one open end of said passageways being disposed in close proximity to and facing one of said ends of said drum, and means for circulating air through said passageways and through so id drum.

4. In an article drier including a support and a, drum rotatably mounted on said support and having ends with openings therein through which air may circulate, the improvement which comprises a heating unit mounted opposite one end of said drum, said heating unit including a burner chamber having a burner therein and a fine leading therefrom, said flue being located in close proximity to said drum and opposite said one end of said drum, a plurality of open-ended tubes extending transversely through said flue and having one set of open ends facing said one end of said drum, and means for circulating air through said tubes into said drum.

5. In an article drier including a support and a drum rotatably mounted on said support, having an imperforate periphery and having a central opening in each of the end walls thereof, the improvement which comprises a heating unit mounted on said support, said heating unit including a burner chamber having a burner therein and a flue leading therefrom, said flue ing cylindrical end wall portions, said cylindrical wall portion being imperforate and each of said end walls having a central opening therein, the improvement which comprises a heating unit mounted on said support, said heating unit including a burner chamber having a burner therein and a flue leading therefrom, said flue including an inverted U-shaped portion lying opposite the opening in one end wall portion of said drum, and a plurality of open-ended tubes extending transversely through said inverted U-shaped portion of said flue, and means for circulating air through said tubes and then through said drum.

'7. In an article drier including a support and a drum rotatably mounted on said support and having ends with openings therein through which air may circulate, the improvement which comprises a heating unit mounted opposite one end of said drum, said heating unit including a burner chamber having a burner therein and a flue leading therefrom, said flue including a triple-path portion wherein flue gases are directed first upwardly, then downwardly and finally upwardly again, a plurality of open-ended tubes extending transversely through said triple-path portion of said flue, said tubes having one set of open ends facing said one end of said drum, and means for circulating air through said tubes and into said drum.

8. In an article drier including a support and a drum rotatably mounted on said support and having ends with openings therein through which air may circulate, the improvement which comprises a heating unit mounted opposite one end of said drum, said heating unit including a burner chamber having a burner therein and a flue leading therefrom, said flue being located in close proximity to said drum and opposite said one end of said drum, a plurality of open-ended tubes extending transversely through said fine and having one set of open ends facing said one end of said drum, said flue having a plurality of fins on the exterior surface of said flue, said fins lying in planes extending parallel to the axis of rotation of said drum, and means for circulating air through said tubes into said drum and also between said flns and into said drum.

9. In an article drier including a support and a drum rotatably mounted on said support and having ends with openings therein through which air may circulate, the improvement which comprises a heating unit mounted opposite one end of said drum, said heating unit including a burner chamber having a burner therein and a fine leading therefrom, said flue including an inverted U-shaped portion lying opposite said one end of said drum, the lower end. of one leg of said inverted U-shaped portion of said flue opening into said burner chamber, a flue stack extending upwardly from the top of said inverted U-shaped portion of said flue, and a baffle plate extending transversely across said flue from a region near the top of said inverted U- shaped portion to a point in proximity to but spaced from the bottom of said other leg portion 7 or said inverted U-shaped portion, said baii'ie being positioned to cause flue gases to pass up through one leg of said U-shaped portion, then down said other leg on one side of said baiiie and back up said last mentioned leg on the other side of said baiiie and out through said stack, a plurality of open-ended tubes extending transversely through said inverted U-shaped portion of said flue and having one set of openends facing said one end of said drum. and

means for circulating air through said tubes and into said drum.

10. In an article drier including a support and a drum rotatably mounted on said support, and having ends with openings therein through which air may circulate, the improvement which comprises a heating unit mounted opposite one end of said drum, said heating unit including a burner chamber having a burner therein and a flue leading therefrom, said flue being located in close proximity to said drum and opposite said one end of said drum, a plurality of openended tubes extending transversely through said flue and having one set of open ends facing said one end of said drum. said flue having a plurality oi flns on the exterior surface of said flue, said flns lying in planes extending parallel to the axis of rotation of said drum, a shield extending over the outer edges of said fins, and means for circulating air through said tubes into said drum and also between said flns and into said drum.

11. In an article drier including a support and a, drum rotatably mounted on said support and having ends with openings therein through which air may circulate, the improvement which comprises a heating unit mounted opposite one end of said drum, said heating unit including a burner chamber having a burner therein and a flue leading therefrom, said flue including an inverted U-shaped portion lying opposite said one end of said drum, the lower end of one leg oi said inverted U-shaped portion of said flue opening into said burner chamber, a flue stack extending upwardly from the top of said inverted U-shaped portion of said flue, and a bailie plate extending transversely across said flue from a region near the top of said inverted U- shaped portion to a point in proximity to but spaced from the bottom of said other leg pertion of said inverted Li-shaped portion, said baf- 5 lie being positioned to cause flue gases to pass up through one leg of said U-shaped portion, then down said other leg on one side of said baflie and back up said last mentioned leg on the other side of said baflle and out through said stack, a plurality of open-ended tubes extending transversely through said inverted U-shaped portion of said flue and having one set of openends racing said one end of said drum, said baifle plate having at least one bleeder hole there- I n 8 through in the vicinity of said iiue stack through which a portion or the gases or combustion may pass directly from the upper end of said one leg into said flue stack, and means for circulating air through said tubes and into said drum.

12. In an article drier including a support and a rotatable shaft mounted on said support for rotation about substantially a horizontal axis and a drum secured to one end of said shaft and carried thereby, having cylindrical and end wall portions, said cylindrical wall portions being imperiorate and each of said end walls having a central opening therein, the improvementwhich comprises a heating unit mounted on said support, said heating unit including a burner chamber having a burner therein and a flue leading therefrom, said flue including an inverted U-shaped portion straddling said shaft and lying opposite the opening in the end wall portion which is adjacent said shaft, and a plurality of open-ended tubes extending transversely through said inverted U-shaped portion of said flue, and means for circulating air through said tubes and then through said drum.

13. In an article drier including a support, a drum rotatably mounted on said support and having ventilated end panels for permitting air flow longitudinally through the drum. the improvement which comprises a blower positioned adjacent one end of said drum and a heater member positioned adjacent an end of said drum having a plurality of open-ended heated tubes facing said drum end through which drying air is directed by said blower prior to passage into said drum.

14. In an article drier including a support and a drum rotatably mounted on said support and having ventilated end panels for permitting air flow longitudinally through the drum, the improvement which comprises a blower axially aligned with said drum and positioned adjacent one end of said drum and a heater member positioned between said blower and said drum having a plurality of heated tubes through which drying air is directed by said blower prior to passage into said drum.

PETER EDUARD GELDHOF.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS

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