Clothes dryer

Abstract

An improved clothes dryer having a refrigeration system wherein the compressor, condenser, and evaporator are rotatable with the dryer drum.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Automatic clothes dryers have become widely accepted by the housewife and are used extensively throughout the United States. However, use has often depended upon the particular construction of the dwelling in which the clothes dryer is to be placed. Often, there are not facilities for venting the dryer or adequate electrical or gas power for operating the dryer.

In order to overcome some of these problems, clothes dryers incorporating a refrigeration cycle have been disclosed in the prior art. In these clothes dryers, heating is provided via the condenser, moisture removal is provided via the evaporator, and outside venting is not necessary. However, since heating is other than by high voltage electricity or natural gas, installation problems are reduced. An example of such a dryer is found in U.S. Pat. No. 2,521,081 - Morrison.

It is, however, desirable to further improve the efficiency of a clothes dryer, provide a more compact unit for utilization in mobile homes, apartments, and other efficiency dwellings, and reduce the number of elements utilized in the construction of the apparatus and thereby avoid waste.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention, a clothes dryer has a rotatable drying drum, power means for rotating the drum, a compressor, a condenser connected to the compressor and associated with the drum for supplying heat thereto, and an evaporator connected to the compressor and the condenser and forming a refrigeration system. The compressor, condenser, and evaporator are each fixedly connected to the drying drum and rotatable therewith. Operating means are associated with the compressor for operating the compressor in response to the rotation of the compressor with the drying drum.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side view in partial section of the dryer of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the elements of the refrigeration system; and

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic partial back view of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, a clothes dryer 10 has an outer case 11, a rotatable drying drum 12 connected to the power means, such as an electric motor 14, for rotating the drum 10. The drum 10 can be rotatable by the motor 14 via a belt 15 as is known in the art.

The dryer has a front access opening 16 for depositing clothes in and removing clothes from the drying drum 12 and the drum 10 is rotatably mounted within the dryer by a shaft 18 and bearing 20 at the rear and drumsupport slides 21 located at the front, one on each side of the drum, as is further known in the art.

Heat for drying clothes in the drum 12 is provided by a refrigeration system. The refrigeration system has a compressor 22 operably associated with a condenser 24 and an evaporator 26.

Referring to FIG. 2, the discharge or high pressure side of the compressor 22 is connected via line 28 to the condenser 24. The discharge of the condenser 24 is connected to the evaporator 26 via line 30 which has an expansion means such as valve 31 therein, and the discharge of the evaporator 26 is connected to the intake or low pressure side of the compressor 22 via line 32. As is known in the art, hot gaseous refrigerant is discharged from the compressor 22, flows through the condenser 24 where heat is removed therefrom and through the expansion valve or capillary, where the hot liquid refrigerant is flashed to a cold vapor. The cold vapor passes through the evaporator 26 where heat is absorbed, and then to the compressor 22 via line 32 to initiate another cycle.

Referring to FIG. 1, the compressor 22, condenser 24, and evaporator 26 are each fixedly connected to the drying drum 12 for rotation therewith. The compressor 22 can be electrically connected via means 36 such as slip rings and brushes as are known in the art.

The compressor 22 and associated elements of the refrigerant system can be fixedly connected to the drum 12 for rotation therewith by any suitable means.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the dryer drum 12 has first and second portions 40, 42 separated by an annular insulating member 38 and a wall 41. The first portion 40 is in communication with the access opening 16 and is provided for receiving clothes for drying. The wall 41 separating the first and second portions 40, 42 has openings 44 extending therethrough communicating the first portion 40 with the second portion 42 of the drum 12 for the passage of air therethrough. The evaporator 26 is positioned on the outer surface of the second portion 42 of the drum 12 and the condenser 24 is positioned on the outer surface of the first portion 40 of the drum 12 for the passage of heat from the condenser 24 into the drying drum 12.

In order to effectively transfer heat to the drying drum 12, it is preferred that the condenser 24 contact the outer surface 46 of the first drum portion 40. Further, in order to avoid the loss of heat, it is preferred that insulation 48 be positioned about the condenser 24 and the first portion 40 of the drum. Insulation 48' can also be positioned around the evaporator 26 to improve efficiency by reduction of heat transfer into the refrigerant system from the surrounding space.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the second portion 42 of the drum 12 has openings 50 about the periphery thereof for the removal of condenser water therefrom. A stationary water collecting ring 52 encompasses the outer periphery of the drum second portion 42. The water collecting ring 52 has water discharge means 54 positioned at a lower end thereof for passing condensed water from the second portion 42 of the drum 12 into an associated water reservoir 56.

In the operation of the apparatus of this invention, clothes to be dried are placed in first portion 40 of the drying drum 12 and the electric motor 14 is actuated. The motor 14 rotates the drum 12 for tumbling the clothes therein. Rotation of the drum 12 rotates the compressor 22 and the compressor 22 is actuated through operating means 36.

Hot liquid refrigerant discharging from the compressor passes heat through the drum wall and heats the clothes therein to a temperature at which water in the clothes is vaporized. The vapor-laden air in the first portion 40 of the dryer drum 12 passes by convection and diffusion through openings 44 and into heat exchange relationship with the cold evaporator 26. Water is condensed from the air onto the inner surface of the second drum portion 42. The air having the moisture stripped therefrom passes by convection and diffusion from the second portion 42 through the openings 44 and into the first portion of the dryer drum 12 to initiate another air cycle.

Water condensed from the hot warm air is removed from the second drum portion 42 by gravity and is directed into the water reservoir 56 via openings 50, collecting ring 52 and the water discharge means 54. Accumulated water in the water reservoir 56 can be disposed of manually or through a drain line 58.

By so constructing the dryer of this invention, no air blower or fan is needed, normal household electric voltage of approximately 115 V is utilized, the compressor is directly connected to the drying drum and utilizes fewer parts, no outside air-venting apparatus is necessary, linting problems are minimized, and the dryer is compact and efficient in operation.

Other modifications and alterations of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing discussion, and it should be understood that this invention is not to be unduly limited thereto.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. In an improved clothes dryer, a rotatable drying drum, power means for rotating the drum, a compressor, a condenser connected to the compressor and associated with the drying drum for supplying heat thereto, and an evaporator connected to the compressor and the condenser forming a refrigeration cycle, the improvement comprising:

said compressor, condenser and evaporator each having means for being fixedly connected to the drying drum and rotatable therewith and including means for operating the compressor.

2. The clothes dryer, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the drying drum has first and second portions separated by a member having openings for the passage of air between said first and second portions of the drying drum.

3. The clothes dryer, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the evaporator is positioned on the second portion of the drying drum and is associated with means for removing condensed water from within the second portion of the drying drum.

4. The clothes dryer, as set forth in claim 3, wherein the operating means includes slip rings and brushes.

5. The clothes dryer, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the condenser is contacting an outer surface of the drying drum.