Stationary clothes drying apparatus

• US 20040134087A1
• Filed: 01/14/2003
• Published: 07/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Meyer, Robert W.
• Granted Patent: US 6,973,740 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 34/90
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/10 Drying cabinets or drying chambers having heating or ventilating means

Abstract

A stationary dryer, which may be used for drying clothes, is provided having a housing enclosing a space. A stationary support is located within the space for receiving articles to be dried. An air moving device is provided for generating an air flow through the space from an air inlet to an air outlet. An air distributor mechanism comprising a distribution plenum is positioned between the air inlet and the stationary support, with a plenum wall having a plurality of perforations therein. At least one of the distribution plenum and the perforations are sized, shaped and arranged so as to equalize an air flow distribution over the stationary support.

Claims

1. A stationary dryer comprising:

a housing enclosing a space,

a support located within said space,

an air moving device for generating an air flow through said space in a downstream direction,

an air distributor mechanism comprising a distribution plenum positioned in said air flow, upstream of said support, with a plenum wall having a plurality of perforations therein, at least one of said distribution plenum and said perforations being sized, shaped and arranged so as to equalize an air flow distribution over said support.

2. A stationary dryer according to claim 1, wherein said support comprises a

generally horizontal porous surface.

3. A stationary dryer according to claim 2, wherein said distribution plenum comprises a pair of spaces, one located on each lateral side of said horizontal porous surface.

4. A stationary dryer according to claim 1, wherein said air distributor mechanism comprises a supply plenum arranged upstream of said distribution plenum to direct said air flow to said distribution plenum.

5. A stationary dryer according to claim 1, wherein said plenum wall of said distribution plenum extends above and below said support, such that said air flow is introduced both above and below said support by said distribution plenum.

6. A stationary dryer according to claim 1, wherein said plenum perforations are positioned on an upstream side of said support and an exhaust outlet is positioned on a downstream side of said support.

7. A stationary dryer according to claim 6, wherein said support is horizontal and said perforations are below said support and said exhaust outlet is above said support.

8. A stationary dryer according to claim 6, wherein said perforations are at one lateral side of said support and said exhaust outlet is at an opposite lateral side of said support.

9. A stationary dryer according to claim 1, wherein said wall of said distribution plenum has a greater porosity at an upstream side thereof than at a downstream side thereof.

10. A stationary dryer according to claim 1, wherein said stationary support is mounted on a movable slide member allowing said support to be slid into and out of said housing to load and unload clothing items on said support.

11. A stationary dryer according to claim 1, wherein said distribution plenum decreases in cross sectional area in a downstream direction.

12. A stationary dryer according to claim 1, wherein said support comprises an arrangement for hanging an article to be dried.

13. A stationary dryer according to claim 1, wherein said air flow is directed generally parallel to a surface of an article to be dried which is carried on said support.

14. A stationary dryer according to claim 1, including an exhaust plenum positioned downstream of said support.

15. A stationary dryer according to claim 1, including recirculation passages in said air distributor mechanism.

18. A stationary clothes dryer according to claim 17, wherein said support comprises a horizontal porous surface.

19. A stationary clothes dryer according to claim 18, wherein said distribution plenum comprises a pair of spaces, one located on each lateral side of said support.

20. A stationary clothes dryer according to claim 18, wherein said plenum wall of said distribution plenum extends above and below said horizontal porous surface, such that said air flow is introduced both above and below said horizontal porous surface by said distribution plenum.

21. A stationary clothes dryer according to claim 18, wherein said plenum perforations are positioned on an upstream side of said horizontal porous surface and an exhaust outlet leading to said air outlet is positioned on a downstream side of said horizontal porous surface.

22. A stationary clothes dryer according to claim 21, wherein said perforations are below said horizontal porous surface and said exhaust outlet is above said horizontal surface.

23. A stationary clothes dryer according to claim 21, wherein said perforations are at one lateral side of said horizontal porous surface and said exhaust outlet is at an opposite lateral side of said horizontal surface.

16. A stationary clothes dryer comprising:

a housing enclosing a space,

a stationary clothes support located within said space,

an air moving device for generating an air flow through said space in a downstream direction,

a heating element positioned in said air flow upstream of said support,

an air distributor mechanism comprising a distribution plenum positioned upstream of said support, with a plenum wall having a plurality of perforations therein, at least one of said distribution plenum and said perforations being sized, shaped and arranged so as to equalize an air flow distribution over said support, at least some of said plenum perforations being positioned on one side of said support and an exhaust outlet downstream of said support being positioned on an opposite side of said support,

said support being mounted on a movable slide member allowing said support to be slid into and out of said housing to load and unload items on said support.

17. A stationary clothes dryer according to claim 16, wherein said air distributor mechanism comprises a supply plenum arranged upstream of said distribution plenum.

24. A stationary clothes dryer according to claim 16, wherein said air moving device comprises a fan positioned upstream of said distribution plenum.

25. A stationary clothes dryer according to claim 16, wherein said wall of said distribution plenum is positioned along said air flow and has a greater porosity at an upstream side thereof than at a downstream side thereof.

26. A stationary clothes dryer according to claim 16, wherein said distributor plenum decreases in cross sectional area in a downstream direction.

27. A stationary clothes dryer according to claim 16, wherein said support comprises an arrangement for hanging an article to be dried.

28. A stationary clothes dryer according to claim 16, wherein said air flow is directed generally parallel to a surface of an article to be dried which is carried on said support.

29. A stationary clothes dryer according to claim 16, including an exhaust plenum positioned downstream of said support.

30. A stationary clothes dryer according to claim 16, including recirculation passages in said air distributor mechanism.

31. A stationary clothes dryer comprising:

a housing enclosing a space,

a stationary clothes support located within said space,

a fan for generating an air flow through said space in a downstream direction,

an air distributor mechanism comprising a supply plenum leading downstream to a distribution plenum positioned between said supply plenum and said stationary clothes support,

said distribution plenum being located on a lateral side of said stationary clothes support,

a distribution plenum wall extending along said air flow and having a plurality of perforations therein, said perforations being sized, shaped and arranged so as to equalize an air flow distribution over said stationary clothes support,

said distribution plenum wall having a greater porosity on an upstream side thereof than on a downstream side thereof.

32. A stationary dryer comprising:

a housing enclosing a space,

a support located within said space,

an air moving device for generating an air flow in a downstream direction through said space,

an air distribution mechanism comprising a supply plenum positioned between upstream of said support, a distribution plenum positioned between said supply plenum and said support and an exhaust plenum positioned downstream of said support, said distribution plenum and said exhaust plenum each having a plenum wall with a plurality of perforations therein, at least one of said distribution plenum, said exhaust plenum and said perforations being sized, shaped and arranged so as to equalize an air flow distribution over said support.