LINT SCREEN FOR DRYER

• US 3,748,746 A
• Filed: 05/01/1972
• Issued: 07/31/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William F. Robandt
• Original Assignee: William F. Robandt
• Inventors: Robandt, William F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sprague, Kenneth W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yeung, James C.
• Application Number:
  US05/249,128
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 34/79-82,233 55/507,509,511,529
• US Class Current: 34/82
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/22 Lint collecting arrangements

Abstract

A lint filter for a clothes drying apparatus comprises a filter element on a mounting means pivotally attached to a stationary rear wall of a dryer within the diameter of the revolvable drum rear opening through which air exiting from the drying chamber is directed for removal of lint. An operating means on the dryer cabinet adjacent the front opening pivots the filter means forwardly and upwardly to an accessible position adjacent the front opening so that the filter element may be removed for cleaning.

Claims

1. In a clothes drying apparatus having a drying chamber with front and rear walls, air translation means for moving air through said drying chamber, air outlet means in said rear wall of said chamber, and door means in said front wall for providing access to said drying chamber;

a lint filter for separating lint from the air moving through said drying chamber comprising, filter means pivotally mounted for movement between a first position in which said filter means obstructs said outlet and a second position in which said filter means is placed adjacent said door means in a location accessible for cleaning said filter means.

2. A clothes drying apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said filter means comprises a lint screen and a pivotable lint screen mounting means.

3. A clothes drying apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said mounting means comprises a lint screen retaining means for removably retaining said lint screen on said mounting means, and at least one pivot arm having a first end pivotally attached at a pivot point on said rear wall and a second end supporting said lint screen retaining means.

4. A clothes drying apparatus according to claim 3 including an operating means connected to said one pivot arm for selectively pivotally moving said filter means between said first and second positions.

5. In a clothes drying apparatus having a drying chamber with front and rear walls, air translation means for moving air through said drying chamber, air outlet means in said rear wall of said chamber, and door means in said front wall for providing access to said drying chamber;

lint filter means for separating lint from the air moving through said drying chamber comprising, a lint screen and a pivotable lint screen mounting means, said mounting means being pivotally movable for swinging movement between a first position and a second position, said mounting means including a lint screen retaining means for removably retaining said lint screen on said mounting means, said mounting means positioning said lint screen to obstruct said outlet when said mounting means is in said first position and said mounting means when in said second position locating said lint screen adjacent said door means in an accessible position for ready removal of said lint screen for cleaning.

6. A clothes drying apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said lint screen and said mounting means are mounted to be disposed substantially flush with said rear wall wherein said first position to avoid obstructing said drying chamber.

7. A clothes drying apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said mounting means includes a pair of generally vertically inclined pivot arms each having a first upper end pivotally attached at a pivot point to said rear wall and a second lower end supporting said lint screen retaining means whereby said filter means is retained in said first position in part by the force of gravity.

8. A clothes drying apparatus according to claim 7 wherein at least one of said pivot arms has a second portion at its upper end on the opposite side of said pivot point extending through said rear wall;

and operating means connected to said second portion for selectively pivotally moving said filter means between said first and second positions.

9. A clothes drying apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said front wall has means forming an opening adjacent said door means, said operating means including a cable-pulley arrangement having a holding member with a pull ring therethrough said holding member passing through said opening and said pull ring being adjacent said opening when said filter means is in said first position and said holding member being adjacent said opening when said filter unit is in said second position whereby said holding member retains said filter means in said second position.

10. A clothes drying apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said lint screen mounting means comprises a plate-like foraminous member, a horseshoe-shaped rib member on said plate-like member defining a slot for slidably receiving said lint screen and rod members attached at their one end to said plate-like member and pivotally mounted to said rear wall at their other end.

11. In a dryer, means forming a treatment zone comprising tumbling means forming a circumferentially continuous wall means rotatable on a generally horizontal axis and having means defining a front opening through which materials to be dried may be placed in and removed from the treatment zone, air translation means for circulating a stream of temperature conditioned air through said treatment zone, wall means including a rear wall opposite said front opening for defining an opening or passage therethrough of said air stream and a front wall adjacent said front opening, and a filter means for separating lint from the air stream, said filter means comprising a mounting means connected to said rear wall for pivotal movement between a first and a second position, and a lint separating element carried by said mounting means and positioned when in said first position at said rear wall covering said passage through which air is directed for filtering, and positioned when in said second position in an accessible position at said front opening.

12. In a dryer as defined in claim 11, said lint separating element being removably mounted in said filter means to facilitate cleaning thereof.

13. In a dryer as defined in claim 11, an operating means connected to said mounting means and having an actuator means positioned in an accessible position on said front wall for selectively moving said filter means between said first and second positions.