US2645033A - Tumbler - Google Patents

Description

July 14, 1953 0. E. K'LING ETAL 2,645,033

TUMBLER 7 Filed April 10, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 H TWOE/VZVS.

July 14, 1953 o. E. KLING ETAL 2. Sheets-6h. 2

Filed April 10, 1950 Ni e /cg Patented July 14, 15253 2 ,645,033 'rUMBLEn 3 w liming.

Chicago, and John J orgenson, Wilmette, Ill.-

q I Application April 10,1950, Serial No. 154,984

This invention relates" tumblers.

'14 Claims. (01. 34-82) to improvements in In the malorityof the clothes tumblers incomzmercial use at the present time the drums there-f.-

of are supported on roll'ersiwhich' permit rota-L tionv of 'saiddrurns on a horizontal axis. These rollers are positively driven and transmit rota- A further object of the invention is to provide I an improved tumbler of the class described hav ing a drum formed with a rear end-walland wherein said wall has a central air outlet, said drum having a perforated auxiliary end wall spaced inwardly from said first-mentioned end wall to form an auxiliary end chamber theretiohal moveinent to the drunrsupported thereon.

A supporting structure of this typeishot'entirely' satisfactory for a number of reasons, among which are relatively rapid avear, a'relatively'large number of parts, and relatively-high cost. lhis construction; however, S' U l l l"y in large machines.

In relatively small machines, the roller type of supporting structure can be avoided by connectlng' oneend' wall of thedruinto one end of a" coaxialshaft'journalledin a bearing which su ports both the shaft andfithe drum. This type of drum supporting structure is obviously more sirnple and more desirable'than the'roller type but due to the cantilever type of support provided, the size andweight r the'drumwhich canbe supported thereby is limited to' one which is rel: ati'vely. small. 7 I 1 v Experience has shown that max mum dry ng efficiency is obtained when thewarindrylng air is introduced into the iront'ofthe rotating drum 7 and caused to flow axially "through saidfdrum,

being discharged at the; rear; jlfo jdate; lriowever no'satisfactory tumbler structure has been developed in which the druinis ca'rriediby coaxial rotating shaft, as described abovefland in which the drying air flows throughthe drum from front to rearand outof a central rear discharge open- It is, therefore, a general object of the present between, there being a shaft fixed to and projecting axially rearwardly from said auxiliary end wallthrough the central opening in said drum end wall; and there being a fixed housing having its interior in communication with said I end wall central aperture and having an air outlet opening, said housin also carrying a bearing in which said shaft is'rotatably journalled. I

A further object of the invention is to pro vide an improved tumbler having a lint trap interposed between the drum and the exhaust blower, said lint trap being provided with a screen positioned so that'the air being drawn from the drum by the fan must pass upwardly therethrough. v

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved tumbler wherein the auxiliary end wall is provided with a central imperforate area of substantial size and with an annular perforated area surrounding said imperforate area to thereby cause the air flowing through the drum to flow adjacent the periphery of said drum and to thereby effect maximum drying efiiciency.

invention to provide anirn-proved tumbler where: L

in the drum is fixed on one end of a rotatable coaxial cantilever shaitwhi'ehisjmounted in a.

bearing, said tumbler being so constructedthat drying air flows through the drum fromfront to] rear and out of a central discharge opening.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved tumbler having a rotatable drum wherein the drying air is caused to flow therethr gh relatively close to the periphery rather than centrally. I u

A further object of the invention s to prov de an improved tumbler of the class descnbed whereinthe drum is mounted in an enclosed casing, said casing being provided with a warm air inlet, and said drum being exposed exteriorly to the warm air, in addition to beingconstructed in amanner to provide for passage of said warm air therethrough.

A further object; of "the inventionis to provide an improved tumbler of the classdescribed which is relatively simple in construction, eflicient in operation, and which is otherwise well adapted for the purposes described.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, wherein is shown one complete embodiment of the preferred form of the invention, and wherein like characters of reference indicate the same parts in all-of the views:

Fig-l isa fragmentary vertical sectional View of the improved tumbler;

Fig. 21s a fragmentary front elevational view I of the improved tumbler with the door thereof removed and with parts being broken away for clarity; and i Fig. ,3 is afragmentary sectional plan view taken approximately along the line 3-3 of Fig. 25. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the

numeral 5 indicates a generally rectangularcabinlet, preferably formed of sheet metal, having a top wall 6, side walls 1 and 8, and a front wall 9.- The cabinet 5 is preferably open at the rear.

A vertical'wall or partition l0 extends transof the class described versely of the cabinet in a position spaced from and parallel to the front wall 9. A horizontally extending shelf ll, of approximately the same size as the top wall 6, extends transversely of the cabinet and is connected to the lower margin of the partition ID, as shown.

The front wall 9 is formed with a circular opening I5, the margins of which are defined by an inwardly projecting frusto-conical flange l2. A door I3 is suitably mounted for swingin movement on a vertical axis and is positioned to normally close the opening l6, as shown in Fig. 1. The shelf I is formed with an air inlet opening H, and positioned below and in registration. with the opening I4 is an air heating element I 5 whichmay be of any suitable type.

The partition I8 is formed with a circular opening H which is coaxial with the opening IS in the front wall 9; and: mounted on the rear surface of the partition ID, in registration with theopening H, is a housing [8. The housing l8:

has an open forward end surrounding the aperture I1, and said housing also hasan opening l9 in: a side wall thereof adjacent the partition II). In itsrear end wall the housing l8 carries a bearing 20, as shown in Fig. 1. Rotatably journalled in: the bearin 28 is a shaft 2| which has. fixed to one end thereof, rearwardly of the bearing 20, a V-belt pulley 22. The shaft 2| projects forwardly of the bearing -and coaxially through the opening IT in the partition l8.

Mounted on the shelf below the housing I8 casing for rotation coaxial with the shaft 2| is a cylindrical drum 26, The drum 26 preferably has an imperforate circular rear end wall 21, an imperforate circular front end wall 28, and an imperforate cylindrical side wall 29 connecting said front and rear end walls. The front end wall 28 is formed with a central garment receiving opening 30 through which the frusto-conical annular flange |2 of the cabinet front wall 9 coaxially extends. The diameter of the opening 30 is larger than the diameter of the opening l5, and therefore the flange I2 is spaced inwardly from the margins of the opening 30 to form an annular opening therebetween. 7

A circular auxiliary rear end wall 3| is fixedly mounted in the drum 26 spaced from and parallel with the rear end wall 21. The auxiliary end wall 3| is formed with an imperforate central area 32- of substantial size, and said wall is also formed with a perforated. annular area radially outwardly from the area 32. The end wall 21 and the auxiliary end wall 3|. define an auxiliary end space 34. therebetween. The rear end wall 21 is formed with a central tubular extension which projects rearwardly therefrom coaxial with the shaft 2| and air discharge opening IT. The tubular extension terminates adjacent the partition III, as at 36.

Fixed on the forward end portion of the shaft 2| is an elongated tapered hub 31 which isformed at its forward end with a. circular plate or flange 38, The plate 38 is suitably fixed to the central the same type of heat insulating material.

imperforate area 32 of the auxiliary rear end wall 3|. The hub 31 extends through the tubular extension 35 and projects into the housing 8, said hub being of substantially smaller diameter than the tubular extension 35, as shown in Fig. 1 to provide an annular air passage through said extension around said hub.

An annular felt-seal 38' is fixed'to the forward surface ofthe partition IO- surrounding the opening I! and in sealing contact with the periphery of the tubular extension 35 adjacent its rear end. The housing I8 is formed with an internal transverse partition 40 rearwardly of theopening I! thereof, said partition having an aperture 4| coaxial with the shaft 21. Fixed to the partition 4|)- is.a centrally apertured disc 42 through which the shaft 2| projects. The disc 42 carries an annular felt seal 43 which sealingly engages the periphery of shaft 2|.

As is clearly shown in Fig. 1-, the front wall 9, top wall 8, partition l0, and side walls 1 and 8 are linedwith:v suitable, preferably fireproof heat insulating material. The door I3 is also lined with The layer of insulation lining the vertical partition I0 is formed with an aperture 45 coaxial with the shaft 2|, which aperture is of substantially larger diameter. than the felt seal.

' 52 respectively. The side wall 48 is fixed to the housing l8 and is formed with an aperture of substantially the samesize as and in registration with the side opening I9 of the housing l8. The side wall 48 is formed with a second opening 54 adjacent the upper end thereof, and mounted on the outer surface of the wall 48, with its inlet opening in communication with the aperture 54, is an exhaust blower 55 which blower may be driven by an electric motor 56. The exhaust blower 55 has a discharge connection 51 projectr ing through the top wall 6 of the cabinet 5 ad- Operation In operation, garments to be dried are introduced. into the drum 28 through the garment receiving openings l5 and 30 in the wall 9 and in the drum 28'. respectively; The motor 23, through the pulleys 22 and 24 and belt 25, rotates the shaft 2| and drum 26 at a predetermined speed, thereby causing tumbling of the garments within the drum. The exhaust blower 55 creates a suction at the aperture 540i the lint trap 48 and causes air to flow through the improved tumbler in a manner to be now described.

The air which is drawn through the improved tumbler enters the open rear'of the cabinet 5 below the partition I thereof. It is drawn into the opening [4 in the shelf II, and as it is drawn through the opening I 4, it is heated by the heating element IS. The exterior of the rotating drum 26' is exposed to the incoming heated air, and said air flows toward the front of the cabinet 5 where it then fiows radially toward the annular opening between the flange l2 and the aperture 30 of the drum front end wall 28. As q shown by the arrows in Fig. l, the heated. air enters the drum 2E throughthe annular space just referred to and flows toward the rear of the drum.

Since the tubular extension 35 forms the only the air flowing through the drum is made to flow adjacent the periphery thereof, as indicated by.

the arrows. This provides a drying action of maximum efficiency since the maximum amount of contact of the drying air with the garments in the drum is provided, and a flow of air axially through the center of the drum. is thereby.

avoided. i

I'he air flows from the tubular extension 35 into the housing [8, out of the side wall open-" ing IQ of said housing through the aperture 53, and into the lint trap 48. As indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2, the air then flows upwardly through the screen 59, out ofthe aperture 54 and into the blower 55, from which it is discharged through the connection 5?. .As the air passes through the tubular connection 35 and housing ii the felt seals 39 and 43 prevent leakage Which would reduce the efficiency of the ma chine and cause-short circuiting or bi-passing of the air travel. by the air into the lint trap 45 drops to the bottom of the lint trap '46 (from which it maybe periodically removed), and the lighter .lint is collected onthe underside of the screen 59.v

It is apparent that the improved tumbler construction provides efficient operation, notonly due to the fact that the heated air is caused to flow in a manner to utilize the maximum amount of heat content therein, but also the air is caused to flow through the drum 26 in a manner to dry the garments in the tumbler with maximum speed. In addition, the improved tumbler combines these advantageous features in a construction wherein the drum is supported at the end of a single rotating shaft.

Various changes and modifications may be made without departing'from the spirit of the invention, and all of such changes are contem plated, as may come within the scope of the claims. I

We claim: I

1. In a tumbler: a rotatable drum having an air inlet opening and having an end wall formed with a central opening; an auxiliary end. wall in said drum spaced inwardly of said first-mentioned end wall and forming an auxiliary end chamber therebetween, said auxiliary end wall being formed with an air passage therethrough; a drum supporting shaft fixed to said auxiliary end wall and projecting axially outwardly through the central opening of said first-mentioned end wall; a fixed housing surrounding a projecting portion of said drum supporting shaft and having an air inlet opening in registration with the central opening of said first-mentioned end wall, said housing also having an air discharge opening; and a bearing carried by said housing in which said drum supporting shaft is journalled for rotation. g

- 2, In a tumbler: a rotatable drum havin a Any heavy lint that is carried front endwall formed with an air inlet. open ing and having a rear endwall formed with a central opening; an auxiliary end wall in said drumspaced inwardly of said rear end wall and forming an auxiliary rear endchamber therebetween, said auxiliaryend wall being formedwith an imperforate central area of substantial size and with a plurality of air passages there- I through positioned radially outwardly of said, imperforate area; a drum supporting shaft fixed. to said auxiliary end wall and projecting axially rearwardly through the central opening of said rear end wall; a fixed housing surrounding the projecting portion of said drum supporting shaft and having an air inlet opening in communication with the central opening of. said rear end wall, said housing also having an air discharge.

opening; a bearing carried by said housing in which said drum supporting shaft is jour-nalled I for rotation; and means for rotating said drum supporting shaft to cause rotation of saiddrum.

3. In a. tumblerr' a rotatable drum having an I air inlet opening and having an end wall formed with a central opening; an auxiliary end wall in said drum spaced inwardly of, said first-mentione d end wall and forming an auxiliary end chamber therebetween, an axially bored elongated hub formed at one end with an enlarged portion fixed to said auxiliary end wall, said end.

wall being formed withperforations outwardly of said hub portion and said hub projecting axially outwardly through the central opening of said first-mentioned end wall; a drum supporting shaft fixed in the bore of said hub andproject ing axially outwardly therefrom; a fixed hous-, ing surrounding said drum supporting shaft and having an air inlet opening in registration with I the central opening of said first-mentioned end wall, said housing also having an air discharge opening; a bearing carried by said housing in which said drum supporting shaft is journalled for rotation; and means for rotating said drum supporting shaft to cause rotation of, said drum.

4. In a tumbler: a rotatable drum having an air inlet opening at one end and having an end an axially bored elongated hub formed'at one end i with. a coaxial circular portion fixed to said a uxil iary .end wall, said end wall bein formed with perforations outwardly of said hub portionfand said hub projecting axially outwardlythrough the tubular extension of said first-mentioned end wall; a. drumsupporting'shaft fixed in the bore of .said'hub and projecting axially outwardly therefrom;' a fixed housing surrounding apro J'ecting portion of said drum supporting shaft and having an air inlet opening in registration with.

the tubular extension of said fust mentioned end,

wall, said housing also having an air discharge opening; a bearing carried by said housing. in Whichsaid drum supporting shaft is journalled for rotation; and means for rotating said drum supporting shaftto cause rotation of said drum 5. In a tumbler: a' fixed enclosed casing having an air inlet opening and having a" rear wall formed with an aperture therein; a rotatable drum in said casing having an iinperforate side.

wall and having an imperf'oraterear end wall formed with a coaxial rearwardiy directed tubular extension in registration with said casing rear wall ap'erture, said drum also having a front end M wallformed with an air inlet; an auxiliary end,

aewpse wall in said drum spaced inwar-dly from the rear end wall thereof and formingan auxiliary rear end chamber therebetween; said auxiliaryend wall being formed with an imperforatecentral area of substantial size and witha perforatedarea radially outwardly of said imperforatearea; adrum supporting shaft fixed at one end to-said auxiliary end wall and projecting axially rear-- wardly through the tubular extensions of said drumrear end wall and through the aperture in the casing rear wall; a fixed housing mounted on theouter surface of said casing rear'wall and having anair-inlet opening in registration with the apertureinthe casing rear wall, said housin surrounding a projecting portion of the drum supporting shaft andhaving anair outlet opening; and a bearing carried by said housing andformed with a coaxial rearwardly directed tubular extension in registration with said casin rear wall aperture, said drum also having a front end wall-formed with an air inlet; an annular sealing ring carried by said casing. rear wall and surrounding said tubular extension, said ring'forming; a seal between said casing wall and said tubular-extension an auxiliary end wall in said drum spaced inwardly from the rear end wall thereof and forming an auxiliary rear end chamber' therebetween', said auxiliary end wall being formed with an imperforate central area of substantial size and with a perforated area radially outwardly'of said imperforate area; a drum supporting shaft fixed atone end to said auxiliary end wall and projecting axially rearwardly A through the tubular extension of'said' drum rear end wall and: through the aperture in the casing rear \vall; a flxed'housing mountedon the outer surface of said casing rear wall and having an air' inlet opening in registration with the aperture in the casing rear wall, said housing surrounding a projecting portion of the drum supporting. shaft and havin an air outlet opening; and a bearing carried bysaid housing and in which said drum supporting shaft is journalled for rotation.

'7'. In a tumbler: a fixed enclosed casing having an a'irinlet' opening and having a rear wall formed with an aperture therein; heating means positioned to heat air entering said casing; a rotatable drum in said casing having an imperforate side wall and having an imperforate rear end wall formed with a coaxial rearwardly directed tubular extension in registration with said casing rear wall aperture, said drum also having a front end wall formed with an air inlet; an auxiliary end wall in said drum spaced wardly from the rear end wall thereof and forming an" auxiliary rear end chamber-therebetween, said auxiliary end wall being formed with an imperforate central area of substantial size and with a perforated area radially outwardly of said imperforatearea; a drum supporting shaft fixed atone end to said auxiliary end wall and projecting axially rearwardly through the tubular extension of said drum rear end wall and through the aperture in the casing rear wall; a fixed housing mounted on the outer surface of said casing rear wall and havin an air inlet opening in registration with the aperture in the casing rear wall, said housing surrounding a projecting portion-ofthe drum supporting shaft and having anair outlet opening; and a bearing carried by said housing and in which said drum supporting shaft is journalled for rotation.

8 In a-tumbler: a-fixed enclosed casing having an air inlet opening and having a rear wall formed-with an aperture therein; heating means adjacent said casing air inlet opening for heating the-airentering said casing; a rotatable drum in said casing having an imperforate side wall and havin an imperforate rear end wall formed with a coaxial rearwardly directed tubular extension communicating with said casing rear wall aperture; said drum also having a front end wall formed with an air inlet; an auxiliary end wall in said" drumspaced inwardly from the rear end wall thereof and forming an auxiliary rear end wall chamber therebetween, said auxiliary end wall being formed with an imperforate central area' of substantial size and with a perforated area radially outwardly of said imperforate area; an axially bored elongated hub formed at one endwith. an enlarged portion fixed to the imperforate area of said auxiliary end wall, said hub projecting axially rearwardly through the tubular extension of said rear end wall' and through the aperture in the casing rear-wall; a drum supporting. shaft fixed in the bore of said hub and projecting axially rearwardly therefrom; a fixed housing. mounted on the other surface of said casin rear wall and having an air inlet opening in registration with the aperture in the casing rear. wall, said. housing surrounding the drum supporting shaft and having an air outlet opening; and a bearing carried by said housing and in which saiddrum supporting shaft is journalled for rotation.

9. In a tumbler: a rotatable drum having a supporting shaft projecting axially from one of its ends and having an air outlet opening adjacent said supporting' shaft; a fixed housing surrounding a portion of said shaft and having an end air inlet openinginregistration with the outlet opening of said drum; a bearing for said drum supporting. shaft carried by'said housing at the end thereof. which is opposite to said air inlet opening, said housing also being formed with a side air discharge opening intermediate said air inlet and bearing; a. partition in said housing intermediate said discharge opening and bearing, said partition being formed with an aperture through which said shaft projects; and a shaft seal carried by said partition and surrounding said shaft.

10. In a tumbler: a rotatable drum having a supporting shaft projecting axially from one of its ends and having an air outlet opening adjacent said supporting shaft; a fixed hOllSlIlg surrounding a portion of said shaft and having an end'air inlet opening in registration with the outlet opening of said drum; a bearing for said drum supporting shaft carried by said housing at the end; thereof which is opposite to said air inlet opening; said housing also being formed with a side air discharge opening intermediate said air inlet and bearing'; abox-shaped lint trap having a side wall opening in registration with the side air discharge opening of said housing, said lint trap having a discharge opening above its side wallopening; and an exhaust blower having an inlet connection communicating with the discharge opening of said lint trap.

11. In a tumbler: a rotatable drum having a supporting shaft projecting axially from one of its ends and having an air outlet opening adjacent said supporting shaft; a fixed housing sur rounding a portion of said shaft andhaving an end air inlet opening in registration with the out-' let opening of said drum; a bearing for said drum supporting shaft carried by said housing at the end thereof which is opposite to said air inlet opening, said housing also bein formed with a side air discharge opening intermediate said air inlet and bearing; a box-shaped lint trap having a side wall opening in registration with the side an auxiliary end wall in said drum spaced in- I wardly of said second-mentioned end wall and forming an auxiliary end chamber therebetween, said auxiliary end wall being formed with an air passage therethrough; a drum supporting shaft fixed to said auxiliary end wall and projecting axially outwardly through the central opening of said second-mentioned end wall; a housing surrounding a projecting portion of said drum supporting shaft and having an air inlet opening in registration with the central opening of said second-mentioned end wall, said housing also having an air discharge opening.

13. In a tumbler: a rotatable drum having a front end Wall formed with a ring-shaped air inlet opening between the center of the drum and the periphery and having a rear end wall formed with a central opening; an auxiliary end Wall in said drum spaced inwardly of said rear end wall and forming an auxiliary rear end chamber therebetween, said auxiliary end wall being formed with an imperforate central area of a size l 10 a substantially greater than the central opening and with a plurality of air passages the'rethrough positioned radially outwardly of said imperforate area; a drum supporting shaft fixed to said auxiliary end wall and projecting axially rearwardly through the central opening of said rear end wall;

a bearing in which saiddrum supporting shaft is journalled for rotation; and means for rotating said drum-supporting shaft to cause rotation of said drum.

14. In a tumbler: a rotatable drum having a supporting shaft projecting axially from one of its ends and having an air outlet opening adjacent said supporting shaft; a fixed housin surrounding a portion of'said shaft and having an end air inlet opening in registration with the outlet opening of said drum; a bearing for said drum supporting shaft at the end of said housing which is opposite said air inlet opening, said housing also having an air discharge opening locatedintermediate said air inlet and bearing; a partition in said housing intermediate vinsaid discharge opening and bearing, said partition having an aperture through which said shaft projects, and a shaft seal between the shaft and openingin the partition.

OLAF El. KLING.

JOHN P. JORGENSON.

References Cited in theme of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 840,883 Vial Jan. 8,- 1907 1,762,594 Seifert June 10, 1930 1,872,401 Butzbach Aug. 16, 1932 1,986,548 Wolff Jan. 1, 1935 2,057,259 Wolff Oct. 13, 1936 2,108,084 Strobridge Feb. 15, 1938 2,194,862 McDonald Mar. 26, 1940 2,271,757 Boltz Feb. 3, 1942 2,393,380 Jorgenson et al Jan. 22, 1946 2,486,058 Patterson et a1. Oct. 25, 1949

Images