US2547238A - Drying apparatus - Google Patents

Description

April 3, 1951 Filed Oct. 31, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet l April 3, 1951 G. TREMBLAY DRYING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 3l, 194'? A /N VEN TOR GERARD FPE/wazv @//M TToR/VEY April 3, 1951 G. TREMBLAY DRYING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet S Filed Oct. 3l, 194'? f- VEN TOR fR/fw TREMLA Y rTOR/VEY April 3, 1951 G. TREMBLAY DRYING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 5l, 194'? Y Y ,M r@ m NM T E@ 7 WT .D /m rfv@ Patented Apr. 3, 1951 UNITED STATES rArsNr orf-ries DRYlNG APPARATUS Gerard Tremblay, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Application Gotober 31, 1947, Serial No. 783,277 In Canada- August 12, 194-7 13 claims. (o1. :s4- 133) Introduction This invention relates to drying apparatus of the rotary tumbler type, and more particularly to improvements in construction adapting the apparatus to easier handling and better drying as Well as versatility of use.

Prior art Many types of rotary tumbler drying machines have been placed in use but certain disadyan-r Objects The present .invention deals .fundamentally f with these and other disadvantages and aims to provide a thoroughly practical solution by providing a drier of the rotary tumbler type, which is easily and quickly convertible to other Adrying uses, has .simple operation, includes positive controlling of quantity and disposition of air cir,- culation, and also easy access to the working parts in cases where maintenance or replacement of parts is required.

Y The invention resides in an improved drying apparatus of the rotary tumbler type, having a removable tumbler drum, method and means for vremovably mounting said drum, and ymeans Vfor controlling the disposition and quality of air circulated through said drum. More particularly, the vinvention is embodied in a Structure which comprises a housing upon which is mounted "tumbler 'driving means, and, contained within said housing are parti-tions adapted to form a heat chamber. A perforated cylindrical drum cons-tituting the tumbler is removably mou ,ted for yrotation within the heat chamber.. Driving e1eyii'ents, preferably .friction rollersy are suitably mounted on the housing in a position to engage the drum which desir-ably includes a prefs erably adjustable laterally, the rim engaging driving elements, registering openings in the up,- per housing and the heat chamber are provided for the removal of the drum, and a door ,tted to said openings is adapted to form a closure, A second door mounted within said first mentioned door, which provides access to an open end of the drum and contains a rotatably mounted bearing for .one end of the drum which is prei,- erably a disc is adapted to mate with and close the open end of the drum, A second-,bearing member mounted on the opposite end -of the drum is adapted to detachably engage a bearing member on oneof the partitions o1 the heat cham,- ber. The applicant prefers to construct the housing in the form of a base casing carrying a motor and the driving elements, and an upper casing carrying the drum supporting mechanismA According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is slidably mounted on the base casing Nand in communication with the vheat chamber, a lint drawer, which is adapted to prevent lint from being recirculated through the heat chamber. rhe lint drawer includes slots in its base slidably registering with slots in the casing which houses the air circulating apparatus and is thus adapted to control the disposition and quantity of air circulated within the drying apparatus.

Detailed description Ha-vine thus `generally described the nature of the invention, particular reference Will be made` to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof, and in which- AFigure l is a side view partially in section showing a preferred embodiment of the apparatus.

Figure 2 is `a Vfront view partially in section further illustrating the apparatus as shown in Figure l.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the front pivot bearing 3.6 as shown in Figure l.

Figure r4l Ais an enlarged sectional view of the rear bearing 44 as shown in Figure 1. l,

Figure 5 is an isometric view of the static rack assembly.

ligure k6 is an isometric view partially in lsection of the lint drawer i4.

As illustrated by the drawings, with particular yreference to Figures 1 and 2,J a structure embodying the invention comprises a body portion l0 and a base l2. A seat comprising a rubber strip ld, firmly seats the body it upon the base l2.

The body lil consists of a housing, supported on a framework I6, the framework it also supporting heat resistant insulation id, forming heat chamber 22. The heat chamber 20 is shaped to substantially enclose a rotatably mounted tumbler drum 22, and a heating element chamber 2li. The upper portion of the body It includes a Vtrarne 34, :a hinged cover 255, and a panel 3b, forming the back of the body lli and is removable from the said body to provideaccess.

The iront of the body It) comprises a removable control panel 33, and a pair of doors, one contained within the other, namely a heat chamber'door All, side 'hinged and closingfon the body on |8, and a drum door 42, contained within the 'door 4e, hinged to swing down. A ball bearing mounting 46, fixed to 'the drum door 42, is adapted to pivotally mount the front of the tumbler tdrum 22, and a second ball bearing mount 44 is adapted to pivotally support the rear of the tumbler drum 22.

The base 12 The base l2 is supported on the base frames 56 and 66. The frame 56 is adapted to support a motor 4S having duplex drives 58 and 60, rubber mountings 56 and 54 being utilized to limit vibration.

Extending above the base I2, mounted on rubber sea-ts 66 and seating upon the frame 88 for the shelf 96, is a roller bearing assembly having a pair of spaced-apart rubber-like rollers l adapted to contact an adjustable annular driving ring 238, which encircles the periphery of the tumbler drum 22. Each of the said rollers ll] mount a V belt sheave 12 which is drivably connected by means of a V belt i4 to a driving sheave' '16 mounted on the motor shaft 60.

A panel i8, hinged at 86 to the rear of the base sheeting S4 and locking thereon by means of a catch S2, provides access to the motor and drive assembly.

A shelf 96 `with sides and back extending downward from the frame 88, is equipped with a bottom having a plurality of ports 92 cut out intermittently along the length and the Width of its entire surface, the back portion of the said ported bottom being adapted to entirely cover the top of the air duct94, allowing for the air passage from the top portion of the machine to the said air duct 94.

The exhaust air duct 94 is framed within the base I2 and extends'upwardly into a collar tting under the shelf 96. The outlet end of the exhaust air duct is framed by a removable collar 98 fitted into an opening in the front sheeting 96 of the base |2, said collar 98 carrying a removable ball bearing mounting |66, in which the shaft extension |66 is rotatably mounted and fitted at one end, namely the end inside of the collar 96, with a fan |68, for exhausting the air from the said duct 94, the other end of the shaft Il'lt` being coupled to the shaft extension 58 of the motor 48 by a coupling I2.

A shield H6 which is adapted to cover the front of the base |2, directs the exhaust air stream toward the floor. rIhe bottom of the base |2 beneath the motor 43 is completely open from the forward frame 56 to the rear frame 56 except for the rails on which the motor-mount 52 is supported. This is to allow for the passage of air into the lower portion of the outer housing from which it is drawn to the upper portion of the housing, between the housing and an inner heat chamber 29.

The body 10 The heat chamber 26 is fabricated on a framework I6 and covered with an insulation i8, the heat chamber being formed to enclose the drum 22, an air intake passage adjoining the element 24, between the framework I6 and the back panel 36, and an a'ir exhaust passage formed by the opening at the bottom, also an open front which is closed by the heat chamber door 46.

The outside shell of the body is framed at the top, said frame 34 supporting a cover 26, hinged at 23 to the said frame 34, the cover being substantially rectangular in shape, and adaptedA to close the rectangular opening formed by the frame 34. The cover 26 is equipped with a rubber seating 32, which is fixed to the under part of the flange of said cover and provides for airtight closure upon the frame 434. A pair of folding fasteners 36, xed at one end to the cover 26 and to the frame 34 at the other end, is adapted to keep the said cover ajar when lifted.

The heating element chamber 2,4

The heating element chamber 24 consists of an insulating box |34, completely covering the heating unit at the top of the heat chamber 20. Louvers |36 are cut out from the sides of the said box |34, and provide for air passage from the air intake to the heat chamber 26, causing the air to ow past a plurality of electric elements or lamps |48, which are screwed into sockets |56 mounted on a reilector bridge |52, the said reflector bridge being fastened to the front and back walls of the box |34. Guide frames |38 are fastened to the side Walls, on the outside of the box |34, said guides are spaced from the walls to slideably admit a pair of removable screens |46, which cover the louvers |36. The said box E34 is equipped with a cover |42, hinged at |44, and is held down by means of a catch |46 on the front of the box |34. The complete unit including the box |34, with its cover |42, the reector bridge |52, with its sockets |56, and electric elements or lamps |48 is adapted to be removed as a unit.

The control panel 38 The control panel 33 is removable from the body l0 and mounts a three-way switch 65 controlling the heating elements or lamps |46, for offlow-medium and high heats, a pilot light |68 which lights up when the elements are lit, an on-oi motor switch H6, a time control switch |12 with bell announcer, a thermostatic control |54 with a range of 0 to 300 F.

The incoming power line is passed through a fuse box with a main switch (not shown on drawings) both installed at the back of the framework I6, to the control panel 38. A thermostat bellow or coil spring element |66, placed within the heat chamber 2|?, is controlled by the thermostatic control of the panel 38 and is adapted to regulate the air heat in the heat chamber 29, by shutting off the elements |48 at any temperature desired. The time control switch H2 is connected to the motor switch |16.

The heat chamber and 03mm doors 40 and 42 Side hinged to the body shell I9 is a substantially square heat chamber door 46, with insulation 263, having a substantially round drum loading door 42, with insulation 2H), downwardly hinged at |78, and contained within its framework, both doors having latching means itt and |90, and equipped with rubber sealing strips |84 and |86 respectively for securing an airtight closure. Centrally located on the inside of the door 42 is a pivot bearing 46, to which is rotatably mounted a nat disc-like member |92, with flanged circumferential edge |94, said flanged edge 594 carrying a rubber gasket |96, adapted to lap into the open face of drum 22, sealing the front of the drum by the Contact of the gasket with the annular rolled edge 222 of the facing .2!8 of the said drum 22.

The disc-like member |92, pivotally mounted for rotation on the mounting 46, provides a closure for the drum 22 as well as a front bearing y when the drum is rotating. This disc member |92 is mounted on 'the pivotiS equipped with ball its outside face, and retained by plate 205. inside the mounting 46.

The tumbler drum 22 The tumbler drum 22 has a solid annular backing 2I2 with an inwardly extending flange 2M to whichis welded the perforated body portion 2IE. .On the front portion .of the drum 22 is .an annue lar facing 2I8 carrying an inwardly extending flange 220 on its outside periphery, which is likewise welded to the perforated portion 2| The inside periphery formed by the inside rolled edge of the facing 2I8 is adapted to t with the rubber gasket |96 on the pivotally mounted disc member -I 92 of the small door 42.

Axially in line with the pivot of the pivotal mounting 46, but on the inside of the drum backing 2I2, is the backbearing M which is adapted to engage with the bearing pivot 224, which is fixed to the frame I extending into the heat chamber 26. A double ball-catch 226, by choice located on the pivot 221i, is adapted to catch behind the inside face of the ball bearing 22B,

which is housed in a rubberlike bushing 236, and retained by the plate 232 fastening to the back of the annular backing 2 I 2 of the drum 22.

Fixed to the inside surface of the perforated drum body 2I, annular backing 252 and annular facing 2I8, are tted a plurality of wooden lifters 234, covered with heat and water resistant coverN ing 236.

On the outside of the body portion ZIS of the drum 22, is a narrow annular driving ring 238,;

which is detachably fastened to the perforated portion of the body by means of screws which pass through the perforations of the drum into the wooden lifters 234. If desired, by removal of these screws, the driving ring 238 can be moved axially of the drum body 2i@ and the screws reinserted through other perforations in the drum into the wooden lifters 234. This allows the position of the driving ring 238 to be adjusted so as to equalize wear on the driving rollers of the machine.

The roller drive kMounted on the shelf framework 88, and adapted to extend into the body portion of the assembled dryer, is a roller bracket E2, having a pair of spaced-apart rollers with shaft extensions at both ends rotatably mounted on roller bearings 64, the mountingsof which are fixed to the said bracket 62. These rollers 'it are adapted to frictionally contact the driving ring 238 attached jacent the front of the housing includes a semicircular cut-out to provide clearance tor the outer periphery of the drum body Zit. The base portion of the bracket 62 also includes a circular opening which is placed in register with the rear portion of thelint drawer I I4.

:The rollers l0 are mounted between the flanges of the bracket 62 so as to extend axially at each side of and beneath the drum body. The inner ends of thesha'ft extensions of the rollers lll extend beyond the rear flange of the bracket E52 to Illl adjacent the rear wall of the outer housing .and the roller driving V-belt sheaves 'I2 are secured to these shafted ends.

An annular collar 68 'is fitted to the bracket 62 and encircles the opening located in its base, between the rollers l0. This collar extends upward to clear'the perforated portion 2I6 of the'drum 22 and is adapted to guide the air to the lint drawer IIlI.

The lint drawer 114 The lint drawer I Iii is adapted to slide into the shelf 90 at the top of the base I2, and has an open top that corresponds with the opening in the base ofthe roller bracket 62, and a closed top portion bending at 90 angle to extend downward and form a front panel for the said drawer IM. Fixed to the front panel and adapted to provide a means of pulling said drawer from the shelf, is a handle |32, under which, protrudes the head of small, sliding spring loaded bolt |35, through a slot in the front panel, where said bolt itil slides up and down to release or lock the drawer II4 in the desired position, said bolt I catching in notches provided at the top ange of the shield I I0, the bottom of the drawer I I4 having two sets of ports cut from its surface, each set taking up about half the length of the said bottom. The first set of ports I I are located at the back of the drawer H4 and are covered by a screen lZll, the second set of ports H8 are located under the closed portion of the drawer lid, the two sets of ports being separated by a wall I22 hinged at I 24 to the top surface of the drawer H4 and being retained by a catch IZ'.

The set of ports Il are in register with the ports 92 in the shelf bottom when the drawer I Ill is fully pushed in or flush with the shield Htl. having the drawer il@ in this position the set of ports H8 are out of register with the ports 92 thereby closing this section of the drawer I I4 and causing the air to be drawn entirely from the heating chamber 2e.

When the drawer I lit is pulled out the distance equivalent to the width .of one of the ports 92, the set of ports IIS are in register with the ports 532 and the set of ports I I6 are out of register with the ports 92 stopping the air flow in the heat chamber 20 and drawing the air from the front of the base I2.

ate between the two positions as described, the air supply is drawn half from the heating cham'- ber 20 and half from the front of the base I2.

The three positions are indicated by markings in the top of the drawer I Iii as shown as I28.

The motor 48 (twin shafts) Thel power unit of the assembly consists of an electric motor bis equipped with a standard rubber mounting 56, the shaft or" which extends from both ends as at 58 and illl. On one end of the shaft namely St, a sheave 'I5 is iixed to accomo date a V belt le. This belt passes around the sheave It and the two pulleys or sheaves 12., which are adapted to drive the rubber rollers lil. The motor 48 is slidably mounted on a motor mounting` 52 spanning thefranie 56 of the base I2, said mounting being equipped with rubber pads 551. The opposite end of the shaft, namely 59, is coupled by coupling II2 to the shaft extension 186, uponwhich is mounted the fan 108. In the case of a single shaft motor being used to drive the dryer, a twin groove type V beltsheave mounted on the motor shaft extension is adapted to drive the rollers from one groove and the ex-z- When the drawer I l is in a position intermedi- Y haust fan from the other with the motor away from the centre and located at either side of the base.

Thermostat contmol The thermostat element 66, Xedly attached to the back of the heat chamber framework i6, and protruding inside of the heat chamber 2li, where it reacts to the temperature existing inside o the said heat chamber, is adapted to be controlled by means or a plate wheel it?, on which is mounted a pair of mercury bulbs it, connected directly to the power line supplying the heating elements or lamps Edil. The wheel |62 is connected to a small Wheel |55 at the end of the control knob ld.i stem or shaft, by means of a cable 58 which encircles both wheels.

The shelf assembly The shelf assembly is composed of a shell base 2M, side members 248, and the shelves 252.

The shelf base 2M, includes legs exending downwards at 90 angle with the top that are sufficiently spaced apart to span the rollersI 'i9 at each side, so that they may slideably fit between the outside of the rollers l and the vertical portion at the bottom of the heat chamber I6, to rest on the floor provided by the base framework 8E.. A tube 2%, having an inside diameter of suitable dimensions .o slideably admit the leg of the side member Zas, is xed to each corner or the shelf base 2M, said tubes being adapted to support the side members 2&8 in an upright position.

The side members S are rectangular` in shape, having two legs extending from the rectangular framework, said legs being adapted .o nt into the tubes at the corners of the shelf base 244, and are equipped with a number of Z section strips 256, said strips being spaced apart to adjust the shelves 252 at different heights along the length of Said side members 248.

Operation After a short pre-heating period, during which no air is allowed to pass through the heat chamber, by pulling out the lint drawer lift to the closed position, the clothes to be dryed are thrown loosely into the in;erior of the tumbling drum 22, through the small door di). The lint drawer! le is adjusted to allow the proper quantity of air to be drawn through the drum by n fan. Suitable adjustments are made on the lthermostat and the time switch, the door is closed, the motor is started, and the heater elements are turned on to the desired degree of heat, by means of switch l.

The air entering through theopen botten of the casing between the front and rear frames 56 is then drawn through the space between the framework I6 and the back panel 3B of the assembly into the heating element chamber 2d, and past the heating elements Hi8, and thence through the tumbling drum` 22, and out through the exhaust air duct after having passed through the screen in the lint drawer l lll. The exhausted air is then deflected by the shield I lo out through the open bottom of the machine at the front.

By simply removing the tumbling drum, the machine can be used to dry objects which do not need tumbling. e. shelf assembly, which is illustrated in Figure 5, is inserted in place of the tumbler drum and stands on the top of the frame- Work B. This shelf assembly includes adjustable shelves, on which can be placed many fragile obthe 8 jects such as dishes or glassware, etc., or any article that does not need tumbling, or that cannot be tumbled in a revolving drum.

Advantages The machine as described, provides many advantages over the prior art which will be outlined briely as follows.

The machine being simple in structure provides easy operating for the lady of the house and the two-part construction of the machine provides an advantage that it can be easily used in a small apartment in which door space is often restricted. The construction of the machine, providing for a heat chamber within an outside shell, with an air space between, eliminates any chance of heat discolouring a wall behind the machine or the possibility of one burning ones self on the machine while it is in operation. The removable panel in the rear of the upper portion of the machine provides easy access to the Working parts of the machine in case of any trouble, and the swing door in the lower portion provides easy access to the mechanical portions of the dryer should trouble develop. This feature alone cuts down a lot on time for service men while doing maintenance.

The construction of the tumbler, namely that the perforated drum is adapted to clear the xed driving rolls by the thickness of the driving ring, means that any buttons etc., which penetrate the perforations in the drum are not damaged by contact with the rollers, and likewise the rollers are not damaged by contact with the buttons. The litters being made of wood and covered with metal, and attached to the perforated portion of the drum permits the easy replacement of the lifters by simply removing wood screws. The attachment of the driving ring to the outside periphery of the drum by means of wood screws, passing through the perforations in thedrum, allows for the shifting of the driving ring across the width of the drum, thus preventing undue wear in any one spo-t on the rubber friction rollers. The entire construction, including the insulation, the V belt, the ball-bearing mountings for all movable parts, provides for vibrationless and quiet operation, which would be of an advantage in a small house or apartment.

A further advantage is provided by the method in which the heating elements, which are ordinary service heating elements are screwed into ordinary sockets, thus providing for the adaptation to lamps or other types of explosion-proof heating elements which would readily transform the assembly into a drying unit used for dry cleaning. The adaptation of thermostatic and time control are further advantages in that the operator does not have to provide his undivided attention while it is operating, but can leave the machine and it will maintain an even and not dangerous temperature `and automatically close oi as the clothes dry out.

A still further advantage of this dryer, made possible by the removal of the tumbling drum is to provide a static shelf for drying articles such as dishes which do not need tumbling. The welded construction of the drum provides a drum or far superior strength with the additional feature of not having outstanding flanges. The ability of the operator to control the quantity of air passing through the drum by means of the lint drawer, provides distinct advantage over prior art machines in that no other form of air control gear is added.

.9 A- further advantage of the applicants structure is the portability o the machine, in that' no pipes are necessary to. drain off surplus. water,

'the water being. absorbed by evaporation due to the heat from the heating elements.

It will be understoodL that, without` departing from the spirit of the invention or the. scope of the claims, various. modifications may be made in the specic. expediente. described. The latter y are illustrative only and not offered in a restrictive sense, it being desired that only such limitartions shall. be placed thereon as may be required by the stateof. the priorart.

The sub-titles used throughout the specicationy are merely to simplify reference thereto and should otherwise be disregarded.

I claim.: l 1. A drying apparatus comprising, an outer casing, an inner casing mounted in spaced-apart relationship with` said outer casing to constitute a heat chamber, said inner and outer casings being provided withlregistering openings, a main door adaptedto form a closure for both of said openings, said main door having an opening therein, a secondary inner door adapted to form closure for said main door opening, a cylindrical drum mounted for rotation within said inner easing, said drum having an imperforate back wall, the peripheral surface of the drum having openings adapted to allow air to pass freely therethrough, a front wall on the drum having an opening in register with the openings in said inner and outer casi'ngs, a closure member for said drum opening, opposed bearing assemblies on the rear wall of said inner casing and the inner face of said secondary door respectively adapted to engage the axial faces of said drum closure member andjsaid drum back wall thereby to support said drum for rotation, driving means within said outer casing adapted torotate said drum,'v the inner casing including openings constituting passage ways for the circulation of air within said casing, means for controlling said circulation of air, means for heating said air, means to exhaust air from said inner casing, said outer easing including openings constituting passage ways adapted to allow air to be drawn into and exhausted from said inner and outer casings, the openings in said outer and inner casings closed by said main door being sunciently greater in size than the outer diameter of said drum to allow said drum to pass freely therethrough, said secondary door being hingedly connected to said main door, said drum closure member being mounted for rotation on said secondary door bearing assembly whereby the opening of said first door also opens said second door and drum closure member to provide an opening through which said drum may be inserted or removed, and the opening of said second door, when said first door is closed, also opens said drum closure member to provide an opening through which said drum may be charged.

2. A drying apparatus, according to claim l, in which said rear wall bearing assembly comprises, a stub shaft xed to the wall of the heat chamber, a ball catch on said shaft, a roller bearing, a substantially dome shaped member centrally iixed to the solid back of said drum, a resilient mounting attaching said roller bearingto said dome member, said roller bearing adapted to slip onto said shaft and be detachably retained thereon by said ball catch.

3. A drying apparatus, according to claim 1, in which said means for controlling the circulation of lair through said heat chambercomprises,

a portion of its top face, a wall hingedly mounted to said closure and extending downwards to form a complete closure of the front portion of said drawer, said drawer also having in the bottom portion a plurality of spaced apart elongated ports,` said ports masked by a screen in the rear portion of said drawer, said frame having a plurality of spaced apart elongated ports adapted to workably register with said drawer ports, means to position said drawer to control quantity and disposition of said air circulation.

e. A. drying apparatus, according to claim 3, in which the means to position said drawer constitutes, a spring-loaded bolt slidably mounted in the front portion oi said drawer, said bolt being adapted to engage any of a plurality of holes in said frame, wherein said ports are placed in predetermined registration according to the spacing of s aidfholes.

' in which the removable rotatably mounted drum comprises, a cylindrical perforated body', a. solid circular backing, an annular facing, said backing having an inwardly extending flange on its outside periphery, and being iixedly attached to said body, said annular facinghaving an outwardly extending rolled edge on its inside periphery and an inwardly extending ange on its outside periphery nxedly attached to said body, said rolled edge framing a. centrally disposed opening in said annular facing adapted to engage said drum closure member rotatably mounted on said second door, a plurality of lifting members, said lifting members being radially disposed across said body and. being detachably fixed therein.

6. A drying apparatus as claimed in claim 1 inr which said outer casing is divided into two portions comp-rising a base portion and an upper portion, said base portion constituting a housing for said drum driving means, said air exhausting means, and saidV air circulation means, said upper portion constituting a housing for said heat chamber, said rotatably mounted drum and said air heating means.

'7. A drying apparatus according to claim 1 in which the bearing assembly mounted on the inner face oi said secondary door comprises a bearing rotatably xed on said door, said drum closure member being mounted for rotation on said bearing and being adapted to mate with the periphery of said opening in said drum, thereby forming a closure and a rotatable bearing for said drum.

-8. A drying apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the drum driving means comprises a pair of driving rollers mounted within a'lower portion of the outer casing, means to drive said rollers, an adjustably mounted driving ring mounted on said drum, said ring surrounding the outside periphery of said drum and being adapted to be driven by frictional contact with at least one of said rollers, said ring being adapted to be fixed in any of a plurality of positions extending across the width of said drum, said rollers extending' substantially the full width of said drum.

9; -Ina drying apparatus having van outer casing, inner casing mounted in spaced apart relationship with the outer casing to constitute a heat chamber, said inner and outer casings being provided with registering openings, a main door adapted to form a closure for both of said openings, said main door having an opening therein, a secondary inner door hingedly connected to said main door adapted to form a closure for said main door opening, a cylindrical drum mounted for rotation within said inner casing, said drum having an imperiorate back wall, the peripheral surface of the drum having openings adapted to allow air to pass freely therethrough, the iront wall in the drum having an opening in register with the openings in the inner and outer casings, a closure member for the drum opening, the combination comprising opposed bearing assemblies on the rear wall of the inner casing and on the inner face of the inner secondary door respectively, said secondary door bearing assembly being adapted to support and lretain said closure member for rotation and said rear wail bearing assembly being adapted to conneet the drum baci; wall thereby to support the drum for rotation, means adapting the drum to be rotated, the drum located centrally of the inner casing so to be accessible i'or heated air circulating therethrough, the openings in the outer and inner casings Closed by the main door being suiiiciently greater in size than the outer diameter of the drum to allow the drum to pass freely therethrough.

l0. A drying apparatus according to claim 9 in which the bearing assembly mounted on the inner face of said secondary door comprises a bearing rotatably fixed on said door, said drum closure member being mounted for rotation on lsaid bearing and being adapted to mate with the 12 to slip onto said shaft and be detachably retained thereon by said ball catch.

12. A drying apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the drum driving means comprises a pair of driving rollers mounted within a lower portion of the outer casing, means to drive said rollers, an adjustably mounted driving ring mounted on said drum, said ring surrounding the outside periphery of said drum and being adapted to be driven by frictional contact with at least one of said rollers, said ring being adapted to be fixed in any of a plurality oi` positions extending across the width of said drum, said rollers extending substantially the full width of said drum.

13.`A drying apparatus, according to claim 9, in which the removable rotatably mounted drum comprises, a cylindrical perforated body, a solid circular backing, an annular facing, said backing having an inwardly extending flange on its outside periphery, and being xedly attached to said body, Said annular facing having an outwardly extending rolled edge on its inside periphery and Tan inwardly extending flange on its outside periphery fixedly attached to said body, said rolled edge framing a centrally disposed opening in said annular facing adapted to engage said drum closure member rotatably mounted on said second door, a plurality of lifting members, said lifting members being radially disposed across said body and being detachably xed therein.

GERARD TREMBLAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

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