Heat delivery system for a fabric care appliance

• US 8,627,581 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2008
• Issued: 01/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brown & Michaels PC
• Original Assignee: Brown & Michaels PC
• Inventors: Brown, Michael E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gravini, Steve M
• Application Number:
  US12/674,824
• Publication Number:
  US 20110099834A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,968 Days
• Field of Search: 34/79, 341/32, 345/95, 346/03, 346/06, 346/07, 68/5.C, 68/5.R, 68/19, 68/20, 813/7, 814/9, 815/9
• US Class Current: 34/603
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/02 having dryer drums rotating about a horizontal axis
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/20 General details of domestic laundry dryers D06F59/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/26 Heating arrangements, e.g. gas heating equipment D06F58/18 takes precedence

Abstract

A drying machine includes a housing; a drying compartment assembly including a drum having a drum pressure; a guide apparatus for guiding air in a path; an air moving apparatus for moving air through the guide apparatus; a heating apparatus for heating air moving through the guide apparatus; power means for providing power to components of the dryer including at least the drying compartment assembly, guide apparatus, air moving apparatus, heating apparatus, and control apparatus; a control apparatus for controlling at least one of the drying compartment assembly, the guide apparatus, the air moving apparatus, the heating apparatus, the power means; and, restrictor means for restricting the air flow rate through the guide apparatus entering the drum whereby the drum pressure is more than trivially lower than ambient air pressure.

Claims

1. A drying machine for drying clothing, comprising:

a housing;

a drying compartment assembly including a drum having an internal drum pressure and being sized and configured to receive moisture-laden clothing;

a guide apparatus for guiding air in a path including through the drum;

an air moving apparatus located after the drum and operable to pull air through said guide apparatus and to only pull air through the drum;

a heating apparatus located before the drum and being for heating air moving through said guide apparatus;

power means for providing power as needed to components of the drying machine including at least said drying compartment assembly, guide apparatus, air moving apparatus, heating apparatus, and control apparatus;

a control apparatus for controlling at least one of said drying compartment assembly, said guide apparatus, said air moving apparatus, said heating apparatus, and said power means; and

,

restrictor means for restricting the air flow rate through said guide apparatus entering the drum whereby the drum pressure is more than trivially lower than ambient air pressure.

2. The drying machine for drying clothing of claim 1 wherein said heating apparatus includes a heat exchanger having a fin density.

3. The drying machine for drying clothing of claim 2 wherein said restrictor means includes the fin density causing at least about a five percent reduction in air flow rate through the heat exchanger.

4. The drying machine for drying clothing of claim 2 wherein said restrictor means includes the fin density causing at least about a ten percent reduction in air flow rate through the heat exchanger.

5. The drying machine for drying clothing of claim 1 wherein said air moving apparatus includes fan means for moving air through said guide means and wherein said restrictor means includes said fan pulling air through said guide means at a sufficient force to reduce the drum pressure more than trivially below the ambient air pressure.

6. The drying machine for drying clothing of claim 1 wherein said air moving apparatus includes variable fan means for moving air through said guide means and wherein said restrictor means includes said control apparatus variably pulling air through said guide means at sufficient forces to reduce the drum pressure more than trivially below the ambient air pressure.

7. The drying machine for drying clothing of claim 1 wherein said restrictor means includes valve means connected with said guide apparatus to selectively restrict the air flow through said guide means.

8. The drying machine of claim 1 wherein said restrictor means lowers the pressure in the drum at least about 3 inches of mercury.

9. The drying machine of claim 8 wherein said restrictor means lowers the pressure in the drum at least about 5 inches of mercury.