Additive dispenser for clothes dryer
First Claim
1. In a fabric drying apparatus having a drum arranged for rotation about a generally horizontal axis and a non-rotating bulkhead member, a fluid additive dispenser comprising:
- a body of porous material comprising a pad with at least one flat surface mounted to said bulkhead member within said drum;
said material having a first surface portion exposed to the interior of said drum and a second surface position for receiving the fluid additive, said first surface portion being said flat surface; and
means for selectively supplying a predetermined quantity of the fluid additive to the second surface;
whereby a fabric load within the dryer drum will contact said first surface of said porous material during a drying operation and thereby gradually absorb said fluid additive from said material.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fluid additive dispenser is provided for a clothes dryer which has a reservoir for storing a quantity of liquid additive, a body of porous material acting as a wick and having a first surface exposed to the tumbling clothes load within the dryer and a second surface for receiving the fluid additive, a conduit connecting the reservoir with the second surface of the material and a valve interposed within the conduit which is selectably operable to deliver a predetermined quantity of liquid to the second surface of the porous material. The reservoir has a horizontal cross section greater than the horizontal cross section of the conduit and is positioned above the valve to provide a relatively constant fluid head to the valve to assist in the accurate metering of the fluid through the valve. The porous material is held in a holder which is mounted to a fixed rear bulkhead of the drum.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. In a fabric drying apparatus having a drum arranged for rotation about a generally horizontal axis and a non-rotating bulkhead member, a fluid additive dispenser comprising:
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a body of porous material comprising a pad with at least one flat surface mounted to said bulkhead member within said drum; said material having a first surface portion exposed to the interior of said drum and a second surface position for receiving the fluid additive, said first surface portion being said flat surface; and means for selectively supplying a predetermined quantity of the fluid additive to the second surface; whereby a fabric load within the dryer drum will contact said first surface of said porous material during a drying operation and thereby gradually absorb said fluid additive from said material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A fabric drying apparatus comprising:
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a rotating drum defining a drying chamber for receiving a fabric load to be dried; a dispenser means fixed within the interior of said drying chamber for dispensing a fluid onto said fabric load; said dispenser means comprising a holder mounted to a non-rotating bulkhead member in said drying chamber and a pad of porous material held in said holder, said material having a first flat surface portion exposed to the interior of said drum and a second surface portion for receiving said liquid additive, and means for supplying a charge of fluid additive to said dispensing means during operation of said drying apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. In a clothes dryer having a rotatable drum, means for rotating said drum about a horizontal axis, and a non-rotating rear bulkhead, a fluid additive dispenser comprising:
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a reservoir for storing a quantity of said fluid additive; dispenser means mounted on said bulkhead for dispensing said fluid additive onto a clothes load during a drying cycle; said dispenser means comprising a holder mounted through said bulkhead and a pad of porous material held in said holder, said material having a first flat surface portion exposed to the interior of said drum and a second surface portion for receiving the liquid additive; conduit means connecting said reservoir with said dispenser; valve means in said conduit for selectively metering a predetermined quantity of said fluid to said dispenser. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. In a clothes dryer having a rotatable drum, means for rotating said drum about a horizontal axis, and a non-rotating rear bulkhead, a fluid additive dispenser comprising:
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dispenser means mounted on said bulkhead for dispensing said additive onto a clothes load during a drying cycle; said dispenser means comprising a holder mounted through said bulkhead and a pad of porous material held in said holder; said material having a first flat surface portion exposed to the interior of said drum and a second surface portion for receiving the liquid additive; a reservoir for storing a quantity of said fluid additive; said reservoir being positioned above said dispenser whereby said fluid is caused to flow from said reservoir to said dispenser by gravity; conduit means connecting said reservoir with said dispenser; valve means in said conduit for selectively metering a predetermined quantity of said additive to said dispenser; said reservoir having a horizontal cross section substantially greater than a horizontal cross section of said conduit to provide a relatively constant fluid head at said valve means. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. In a clothes dryer having a rotatable drum, means for rotating said drum about a horizontal axis, and a non-rotating rear bulkhead, a fluid additive dispenser comprising:
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dispenser means mounted on said bulkhead for dispensing said additive onto a clothes load during a drying cycle; said dispenser means comprising a holder mounted through said bulkhead and a body of porous material held in said holder; said body of porous material comprising a disk-shaped pad of wool felt; said material having a first surface portion exposed to the interior of said drum and a second surface portion for receiving the liquid additive; a reservoir for storing a quantity of said fluid additive; said reservoir being positioned above said dispenser whereby said fluid is caused to flow from said reservoir to said dispenser by gravity; conduit means connecting said reservoir with said dispenser; valve means in said conduit for selectively metering a predetermined quantity of said additive to said dispenser; said reservoir having a horizontal cross section substantially greater than a horizontal cross section of said conduit to provide a relatively constant field head at said valve means.
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Specification