U.S. patent application number 11/367197 was filed with the patent office on 2006-07-06 for dryer seal.
This patent application is currently assigned to THE FELTERS GROUP. Invention is credited to William Cross, David Starrett.
Application Number | 20060145430 11/367197 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34083656 |
Filed Date | 2006-07-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060145430 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cross; William ; et
al. |
July 6, 2006 |
Dryer seal
Abstract
A dryer seal. The seal is formed from an elongate multi-layer
structure having a strip of fibrous material folded upon itself to
establish a folded perimeter edge and a pair of outwardly
projecting portions projecting away from the folded perimeter edge.
A fibrous interior spacer layer is located between the outwardly
projecting portions and a single attachment seam extends at an
inboard location substantially parallel to said folded perimeter
edge.
Inventors: |
Cross; William; (Anderson,
SC) ; Starrett; David; (Greer, SC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
James M. Robertson;J.M. Robertson Intellectual Property, LLC
First Floor
233 S. Pine Street
Spartanburg
SC
29302
US
|
Assignee: |
THE FELTERS GROUP
|
Family ID: |
34083656 |
Appl. No.: |
11/367197 |
Filed: |
March 3, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10865212 |
Jun 10, 2004 |
7007955 |
|
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11367197 |
Mar 3, 2006 |
|
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60490361 |
Jul 25, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
277/652 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16J 15/3288 20130101;
D06F 58/04 20130101; Y10S 277/903 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
277/652 |
International
Class: |
F16J 15/08 20060101
F16J015/08 |
Claims
1. A dryer seal comprising an elongate multi-layer structure
wherein said elongate multi-layer structure comprises a strip of
fibrous material folded upon itself to establish a folded perimeter
edge and a pair of outwardly projecting portions projecting away
from said folded perimeter edge wherein a single attachment seam
extends at an inboard location substantially parallel to said
folded perimeter edge so as to adjoin said outwardly projecting
portions at a defined location inboard of said folded perimeter
edge such that a compressible bulb is formed between the folded
perimeter edge and the attachment seam and wherein each of said
outwardly projecting portions comprises a needlepunched non-woven
textile defining an outer layer consisting essentially of wool
fiber blended with polyester fiber.
2-14. (canceled)
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of and priority from
provisional application 60/490,361 filed Jul. 25, 2003 the contents
of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their
entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This invention relates to a dryer seal and more particularly
to a dryer seal of simplified construction incorporating an
arrangement of fibrous material forming a multi-layer sealing
element secured together by a simplified stitching arrangement.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Automatic clothes dryers typically include a housing (also
known as a bulkhead) and a rotating drum supported within the
housing. It is known to use seal elements in the form of rings of
felt which may be disposed between the housing and the drum so as
to bear against the drum as it rotates. The use of a sealing
element is desirable to prevent air leakage between the drum and
the clothes dryer cabinet which could detrimentally affect the air
flow system of the dryer. It is known to utilize seals in the form
of multi-layered ring structures incorporating a folded over
exterior layer such as wool or wool blend nonwoven material with a
spacer material such as polyester or polyester blend material held
within the folded over exterior. The legs projecting outwardly from
the folded edge form a sealing contacting relation with the
rotating drum. In known past constructions of this type the spacer
material was typically held in place by two seams with a first
positioning seam running between the upper edge of the spacer
material and one side of the folded over exterior and a second
holding seam extending at an inboard position through all three
layers so as to establish a coordinated stable structure.
[0004] In the past the use of a first positioning seam and a second
holding seam was believed to be necessary to maintain the desired
spatial relation between the folded over exterior and the internal
spacer material. Maintenance of this spatial relationship is
required in order to retain the desired thickness of material
between the drum and the housing. In the event that the internal
spacer becomes disengaged from or unduly skewed relative to the
folded over exterior, the seal efficiency may be greatly reduced
thereby permitting hot air to exit the dryer drum and travel into
the cabinet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] This invention provides advantages and alternatives over the
prior art by providing a dryer seal of substantially simplified
construction which eliminates the need for double stitching while
nonetheless providing desirable sealing characteristics. In
particular the present invention provides a seal which functions in
the desired manner of prior seals by using flared edges to maintain
a sealing relation between a rotating dryer drum and the dryer
cabinet. However, although the seal of the present invention
operates in the same manner as known prior seals, it utilizes only
a single connecting stitch line such as a lock or chain stitch
between the folded over exterior and the internal spacer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The following drawings which are incorporated in and which
constitute a part of this specification illustrate an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention and, together with the general
description above and the detailed description set forth below,
serve to explain the principles of the invention wherein:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary clothes dryer
with the rotating drum and seal illustrated in phantom;
[0008] FIG. 1A is an exploded cut-away view of a seal according to
the present invention with the seal mounted around a bulkhead
flange;
[0009] FIG. 2 is an end view of a dryer seal according to the
present invention;
[0010] FIG. 3 is an elevation plan view of an elongate strip of
multi-layered construction which may be attached end to end to form
the dryer seal illustrated in FIG. 2; and
[0011] FIG. 4 is a view taken generally through line 4-4 in FIG. 3
illustrating the arrangement of layers and single stitch line.
[0012] While the invention has been generally described above and
will hereinafter be described in connection with certain
potentially preferred embodiments and procedures, it is to be
understood and appreciated that in no event is the invention to be
limited to such illustrated and described embodiments and
procedures. On the contrary, it is intended that the present
invention shall extend to all alternatives and modifications as may
embrace the broad principles of this invention within the true
spirit and scope thereof.
DESCRIPTION
[0013] Reference will now be made to the various drawings wherein
to the extent possible like reference numerals are utilized to
designate corresponding components throughout the various views. In
FIGS. 1 and 1A, there is illustrated a dryer 10 including a cabinet
body 12 housing a heated rotating drum 14. As illustrated, the
cabinet body includes a door opening 16 for loading clothing
articles into the mouth of the drum 14. The door opening 16 may be
closed by means of a door 18.
[0014] As will be well known to those of skill in the art, the
cabinet body 12 typically includes a bulkhead flange 20 (FIG. 1A)
surrounding the door opening and projecting into the interior of
the cabinet body. The bulkhead flange 20 is disposed generally
around a reduced diameter drum opening 22. An outer wall portion 24
of the drum is disposed in surrounding relation to the flange or
ring 20.
[0015] As shown, a seal 30 is disposed around the bulkhead flange
20 between the outer wall portion 24 and the bulkhead flange 20. As
will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, dryers are
typically vacuum systems. In operation the seal 30 prevents the
draw of cool (non-heated) air from around the drum. With this flow
path blocked, air is drawn more efficiently into the drum from a
heated element area for use and eventual vent discharge.
[0016] As will be described in greater detail hereinafter, the seal
30 includes a folded over exterior 36 and an internal fibrous
spacer 38. As the dryer is operated the drum 14 may experience a
degree of oscillation up and down. The exterior 36 and spacer 38
define legs which may flair out or compress as required to adjust
for this up and down oscillation and thereby maintain contacting
sealing relation with the moving drum.
[0017] Although dryer seal arrangements using seals having flared
ends were previously known, according to the present invention an
improved construction for the seal 30 is provided which eliminates
the need for multiple seams holding the spacer material in place.
Thus, substantial efficiency is provided without sacrificing the
ability to hold the spacer material in place (thereby avoiding
dislocation or skewing) or giving up the ability to maintain
contacting relation between the seal 30 and the oscillating drum
14.
[0018] Referring to FIGS. 2-4, it may be seen that the dryer seal
30 is preferably of substantially circular construction. According
to one potentially preferred practice the dryer seal 30 is formed
by adjoining the opposing ends of an elongate sealing structure 32
by use of end to end stitching 34 or other attachment means such as
ultrasonic welding and the like as may be known to those of skill
in the art.
[0019] Referring simultaneously to FIGS. 2 and 3, according to one
contemplated embodiment the sealing structure 32 is formed by
folding an outer layer 36 around an interior spacer layer 38 and
applying a single stitch line 40 through the layered structure so
formed thereby securing the components in place relative to one
another. As illustrated, the stitch line 40 is disposed at an
inboard location relative to the folded over edge of the outer
layer 36. Such an arrangement thereby forms a single bulbous pocket
structure 44 in which a proximal end 46 of the interior spacing
layer 38 is held.
[0020] According to an exemplary formation practice, the outer
layer 36 is a needle punched nonwoven textile material formed from
entangled fibers of wool or wool blend material such as wool and
polyester or other synthetic fiber. Recycled grey wool material may
be particularly desirable. In such a construction, the wool
provides a degree of natural lubricity which may aid in avoiding
premature damage. In one exemplary construction the outer layer 36
is a needle punched grey wool felt having a thickness of about 0.13
inches. However, it is likewise contemplated that other materials
and/or constructions may be utilized if desired.
[0021] The interior spacer layer 38 is preferably a needle punched
nonwoven of polyester. In one exemplary construction this interior
spacer layer is needle punched polyester having a thickness of
about 0.17 inches and a mass per unit area of about 12 ounces per
square yard. However, it is likewise contemplated that other
materials and/or constructions may be utilized if desired.
[0022] The stitch line 40 which defines the inboard boundary of the
pocket 44 is preferably formed by a chain stitch or lock stitch
construction although other stitching arrangements as may be known
to those of skill in the art may likewise be utilized. In one
exemplary construction the stitch line incorporates a stitch
density of about 5 to about 13 stitches per inch. However, it is
likewise contemplated that other stitching arrangements may be
utilized if desired. The stitch joints formed preferably exceed the
tear strength of the felt.
[0023] As previously indicated and illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 4,
the portions of the outer layer 36 and interior spacer layer 38
which project outwardly from the pocket structure 44 define legs
which can be compressed or flared as required to adjust for
oscillation of the drum 14. Thus, contacting sealing relation
between the seal and the drum is maintained during such
oscillation.
[0024] While the present invention has been illustrated and
described in relation to certain potentially preferred embodiments
and practices, it is to be understood that such embodiments and
practices are illustrative and exemplary only and that the present
invention is in no event to be limited thereto. Rather, it is
contemplated that modifications and variations to the present
invention will no doubt occur to those of skill in the art upon
reading the above description and/or through a practice of the
invention. It is therefore contemplated and intended that the
present invention shall extend to all such modifications and
variations which incorporate the broad principles of the present
invention within the full spirit and scope thereof.
* * * * *