US3716925A

US3716925A - Humidifier attachment for clothes dryers

Info

Publication number: US3716925A
Application number: US00187970A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Hartung
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-10-12
Filing date: 1971-10-12
Publication date: 1973-02-20
Anticipated expiration: 1990-02-20

Abstract

A HUMIDIFYING CHMBER IS PROVIDED IN THE VENT PIPE FROM A CLOTHES DRYER, AND THE AIR VENTED MAY BE BYPASSED THROUGH THE CHAMBR TO DELIVER HEATED MOIST AIR TO THE AREA NEAR THE DRYER. A DAMPER CONTROLS THE FLOW OF AIR SO THAT THE HOT MOIST AIR MAY BE VENTED TO OUTSIDE ATMOSPHERE WHEN DESIRED.

D R A W I N G

Description

Feb. 20, 1973 R. E. HARTUNG 3,716,925

HUMIDIFIER ATTACHMENT FOR CLOTHES DRYERS Filed Oct. 12, 1971 United States Patent 3,716,925 HUMIDIFIER ATTACHMENT FOR CLOTHES DRYERS Ray E. Hartung, 7381 Memory Lane, Minneapolis, Minn. Continuation-impart of abandoned application Ser. No. 869,846, Oct. 27, 1969. This application Oct. 12, 1971, Ser. No. 187,970

Int. Cl. F26b 21/00 US. Cl. 34-80 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A humidifying chamber is provided in the vent pipe from a clothes dryer, and the air vented may be bypassed through the chamber to deliver heated moist air to the area near the dryer. A damper controls the flow of air so that the hot moist air may be vented to outside atmosphere when desired.

This is a continuation-in-part of my application for Humidifier Attachment for Clothes Dryers, Ser. No. 869,846, filed Oct. 27, 1969, now abandoned.

This invention relates to an improvement in humidifier and deals particularly with a device for utilizing moisture vented from a clothes dryer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventional clothes dryers heat the wet clothing from the washing machine to evaporate the moisture therefrom. The moist air being vented from the dryer is normally vented to outer atmosphere. Obviously, the air being vented contains considerable moisture.

In the colder climates, the humidity drops very materially in cold weather. As a matter of fact, many homes are equipped with humidifiers which add to the moisture in the air during the winter months, and are also equipped with dehumidifiers for removing moisture from the air during the summer months. Under normal circumstances, the moisture removed from clothing in a clothes dryer is not utilized, but is merely vented to atmosphere.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention resides in the provision of a simple device designed to fit into the vent pipe leading from the clothes dryer to outer atmosphere. This device comprises a chamber encircled by filtering material capable of supporting moisture and through which moisture laden air may pass. The section of the vent pipe which extends through the chamber is provided with a by-pass opening and a damper is provided which is operable in one extreme position to close the vent pipe and to open the by-pass opening, and which is operable in its other extreme position to close the by-pass opening and to open the vent pipe. As a result, the moisture laden air may be either directed inside the house or outside thereof, depending upon the position of the damper.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a device of the type described which may operate to distribute moist air inside of the house at times when the humidity within the house is low, and which will permit the moist air to vent to outer atmopshere at times when humidity is high. By merely operating a 3,716,925 Patented Feb. 20, 1973 ICC damper, all of the moisture removed from clothes in a clothes dryer may be distributed within the house at times when the air within the house lacks moisture, aiding materially in distributing the proper amount of moisture in the air.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a clothes dryer, and showing the humidifying apparatus used in conjunction therewith.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the humidifying device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional detail showing the manner in which the substantially cylindrical screen is formed.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view showing the damper structure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The humidifying device is indicated in general by the letter A, and the clothes dryer is indicated in general by the letter B. The dryer B may be either electric or gas operated. The dryer B is provided with a vent pipe 10 which normally leads through the wall of the house or through a window opening so as to terminate outside of the house. The vent pipe 10 is normally made of short sections of sheet metal tubing which are crimped at one end in order to telescope into a section of similar tubing.

The humidifier A includes a section of tubing 11 of standard length and size which may take the place of a section of the tubing normally used. A section of tubing 11 is provided with a crimped upper end 12 which is of slightly reduced size so as to fit in the uncrimped end of the next adjacent section. A pair of spaced

sheet metal rings

13 and 14 encircle the tube section 11. The

rings

13 and 14 are provided with short

cylindrical flanges

15 and 16 respectively which fit snugly about the pipe 11 and which may be welded or otherwise fixed to the pipe. The

rings

13 and 14 are provided with

peripheral flanges

17 and 19 respectively which act to support a substantially cylindrical screen 20 made of expanded metal or similar foraminous material.

Clothes dryers such as B usually are located as near as possible to a wall in order to conserve space. The upper end of the vent pipe is usually connected to an elbow directed to a section leading through the wall. The vertical portion of the vent is usually spaced a few inches from the Wall to accommodate the elbow. In order not to disturb this arrangement, the short

cylindrical flanges

15 and 16 are preferably eccentrically arranged. These aligned flanges are so arranged that the tubing section 11 is close to one side of the screen 20, as is indicated in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

As indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, the screen 20 is formed of a rectangular sheet of foraminous material which is bent in a generally cylindrical form, and in which the substantially abutting edges 21 are bent inwardly and rearwardly to provide a slot therebetween which extends parallel to the axis of the screen. The screen 20 acts as a support for a filter blanket 22 which is generally similar to the filter blankets used in the inlets of hot air furnaces and the like, and which may be made of glass fibers or similar material capable of separating hnt and similar foreign particles from the air, while still permitting air to pass readily therethrough.

The filter blanket 22 comprises a rectangular strip of filter material which is of a width substantially equal to the height of the screen 20, and which is of a length slightly in excess of the circumference of the screen 20. As is indicated in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the ends 23 of the filter blanket are forced through the slot 24 between the ends 21 of the screen 20 and the blanket is frictionally held in place. The structure is such that the blanket may be removed and replaced or washed and replaced whenever it becomes necessary to do so. However, in view of the fact that the movement of air through the blanket is in an outward direction, lint and other foreign particles are deposited on the inner surface of the blanket, and little maintenance is required.

The damper construction is best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 of the drawings. An opening 25 is provided in the pipe by cutting a pair of parallel cut lines 26 through approximately one half the circumference of the pipe and normal to the axis thereof. The parallel cut lines 26 are connected by a central out line extending longitudinally of the pipe. The portions of the pipe on opposite sides of the longitudinal out line are bent outwardly into flat or parallel relation to form parallel wings 27 which extend tangentially to the surface of the pipe section 11 and which have parallel forward edges 29 which were previously joined before the longitudinal cut line was made. A top closure plate 30 connects the upper edges 31 of the wings 27. The closure plate 30 is provided with a semicircular notch 31 which is of proper radius to fit snugly against the pipe section 11. The plate 30 is provided with parallel downwardly extending flanges 32 which lie outwardly of the upper portions of the wings 27. The flanges 32 are connected to the wings 27 by any suitable means such as by spot welding.

A bottom closure plate 34 is provided which is generally similar to the plate 30. The bottom closure plate 34 includes a semi-circular notch 35 adapted to fit the contour of the pipe section 11. This bottom plate 34 is provided with parallel side flanges 36 which are spotwelded or otherwise secured to the outer surfaces of the wings 27. Both the closure plates 30 and 34 are co-extensive with the wings 27 so as to provide a rectangular tubular passageway.

An angle bracket 37 includes a flange 39 which is spotwelded or otherwise secured to the upper surface of the lower closure plate 34. The bracket also includes a vertical panel 40 which extends upwardly at right angles to the flange 39. The flange 40 is provided in its upper surface with a notch 41 having a radius of curvature which is slightly less than the radius of curvature of the inside wall of the tubular section 11.

The flanges 32 of the upper closure plate 30 are provided with aligned apertures 42 extending therethrough and the wings 27 are provided with registering openings 43. A pivot shaft 44 extends through the openings and supports a damper 45. The damper 45 is provided with a bearing 46 extending along one end and is of a width to snugly fit between the wings 27 and against the inner surface of the bracket flange 40, as well as the closure plate 30. When in engagement with the flange 40, the marginal edge of the damper slightly overlaps the edge of the notch 41. The end 48 of the damper is rounded to fit the curvature of the inner surface of the tube section 11. In one extreme position, the damper forms a closure for the passage formed between the wings 27. When in its other extreme position, the damper completely closes the outlet pipe 11 above the level of the wings 27 as is indicated in full lines in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

An angle bracket 47 has one flange 49 welded or otherwise secured to the damper 45 to extend forwardly therefrom in a vertical position of the damper. The angle bracket 47 includes a second flange 50 having an aperture 51 extending therethrough. A damper operating a rod 52 extends through the aperture 51 and is pivotally connected to the bracket 47. The arm 52 extends between the ends 23 of the filter blanket 22 to be manually operated externally of the device.

If it is desired to take advantage of the moisture removed in the clothes drying process for humidifying the air, the arm 52 is pushed inwardly into the position shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, swinging the damper 45 across the pipe 11 so as to close the opening to the vent. The moisture leaving the dryer is then lay-passed through the discharge damper housing between the wings 27 and into the interior of the screen 20 from where it may flow through the filter blanket to the ambient atmosphere.

The moisture laden air is thus distributed into the room in which the dryer is located, and excess moisture collects in the filter blanket and gradually evaporates. Obviously, the extent to which the air is humidified depends on the frequency of use of the clothes dryer, the volume of clothes being dryed, and other such variables. However, all of the moisture which is in the clothing when it is put into the dryer is delivered to the ambient air, and the device aids materially in imparting moisture to the air.

The damper 45 will normally remain in position to close the pipe 11 without the use of any latching means. The damper is light in weight, and the rod 52 is frictionally engaged between the ends of the filter blanket and will normally remain in adjusted position. Furthermore, when the dryer is in operation, there is usually a slight pressure build-up within the humidifier tending to hold the damper in a set position.

When it is desired to direct the moist air outside of the house, the operating arm 52 is pulled outwardly, swinging the damper 45 down against the flange 40 and opening the passage to outer atmosphere through the vent pipe 10. During the winter months, the heat and moisture generated by the dryer may be used to assist in heating and moistening the air within the house. During the summer months when the humidity is normally high, the heat and moisture is directed to outer atmosphere through the vent in the usual manner.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my Humidified Attachment for Clothes Dryers and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In combination with a clothes dryer within a buildmg and a dryer vent duct extending from the air outlet of the dryer to outer atmosphere, the vent duct including a series of vent pipe lengths in telescoping relation,

a pair of imperforate discs supported in spaced relation on one of said lengths of vent pipe,

a foraminous wall secured to, and between, said discs and encircling said one length of vent pipe in spaced relation thereto,

a filter blanket encircling said foraminous wall,

a tubular damper housing extending at generally right angles to said vent pipe within said foraminous wall,

said vent pipe having an opening therein communicating with the interior of said tubular damper housing,

a damper pivotally supported by said damper housing and swingable from a position closing said vent pipe and opening said damper housing, to a second position closing said damper housing and opening said vent pipe,

the area between said discs and inwardly of said foraminous wall providing a chamber for catching lint and other particles issuing from said clothes dryer air outlet, and

means for pivoting said damper between said positions.

2. The structure of claim 1 and in which said foraminous wall includes a narrow slot extending parallel to the axis of said one vent pipe section, and in which said filter blanket includes ends extending through said slot and trictionally engaged therein.

3. The structure of claim 2 and in which said means for pivoting said damper includes an arm pivotally connected to said damper and extending through said slot and between the ends of said filter blanket.

4. The structure of claim 1 and in which said damper pivoting means includes an arm pivotally connected to said damper and extending through said wall.

5. The structure of claim 1 and in which said vent pipe extends through said pair of discs near the periphery thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS KENNETH W. SPRAGUE, Primary Examiner J. C. YEUNG, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.