GB2116068A - Filter for a tumble drier - Google Patents

Abstract

An air filter for a tumble drier is of hollow wedge-like form and comprises two identical moulded frames bridged by plastics mesh and each comprising a single upstanding flange 24, extending along one edge 25 and halfway along an adjacent edge 26, and a pair of spaced flanges 27, 28 extending along the opposite edge 25 and half way along edge 26. In their operative position the two frames engage face to face, with respective flanges 24 locating between flanges 27,28 on the other frame. The frames hinge together at 30, 31, are held in their operative relationship by push-fit connectors 29,32 and can be opened out to enable fluff to be removed. Pegs 33 serve as handles. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A filter for a tumble drier The invention relates to a filter for a tumble drier for drying clothes or the like.

Tumble driers have previously been proposed in which a stream of drying air leaving a drum in the region of a front loading port is passed to an exhaust air duct of rectangular cross-section and extending downwards behind the front of the housing. A fluff filter, which can be of V-shaped cross-section, can be suspended in the inlet to the exhaust air duct so that the filter is subjected to an airstream from the drier.

The filter can comprise a frame of synthetic plastics material open at its top and surrounded by an envelope of close mesh synthetic plastics gauze.

Tumble driers of this type have been on the market for many years, and numerous embodiments have also been disclosed in the patent literature. The fluff filter suspended in the inlet to the exhaust air duct in the front loading port has proved to be very suitable since it can easily be serviced. Furthermore, the filter area of such a fluff filter which is subjected to the air-stream from the inside of the drier can be of very generous dimensions. Moreover, such a fluff filter has the advantage that the laundry fluff retained by the filter area is stored in the filter itself. However, a disadvantage in this case is that laundry fluff retained in the fluff filter which narrows downwards cannot be reached by the fingers of an operator during cleaning, so that the operator must use appropriate aids. When these aids are used incorrectly, there is a risk of damage to the fine plastic gauze.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a fluff filter which can be easily cleaned without the use of additional aids and which can be manufactured as hitherto by means of only one plastic injection mould.

According to the present invention, there is provided a fluff filter for a tumble drier in which a stream of drying air leaving a drum in the region of a front loading port can be passed to an exhaust air duct extending downwards behind the front of a housing, said fluff filter being of substantially V-shaped cross-section and being adapted to be suspended in the inlet of the exhaust air duct where it can be subjected internally to the airstream and said filter being formed by a frame which is open at the top and is surrounded by an envelope of filter material, characterised in that the frame is formed by two substantially identical frame members which can be abutted together, each frame member being provided, on its contact surfaces adapted to be disposed towards the other frame member respectively, with a peripheral first web extending in the fitting direction, and with a second web which is offset inwards by a web width and projects by the web height and is disposed along one side and along an adjoining lower side up to a location adjacent the middle thereof and each frame member is provided with filter material.

By dividing the plastic frame into two along its longitudinal central plane and by providing the contact surfaces located in said plane as a part of a labyrinth seal, a fluff filter has been created which can be dismantled for cleaning. Both frame parts of the filter are of identical design and can therefore be manufactured inexpensively by means of only one plastic injection mould.

Admittedly, our British Patent Application No.

8135749 discloses an openable twin insertion screen for a tumble drier. This twin insertion screen is arranged in the tumble drier at a different point in the air path, and the flow conditions of the airstream are also different. Moreover, in British Patent Application No. 8135749, the fluff filter does not comprise two absolutely identical parts.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a tumble drier with a front loading port and with an exhaust air duct which is shown hidden behind the front facing of a housing and in which a fluff filter is suspended in the inlet thereto.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a complete fluff filter assembled from two identical members and in its position of installation, and Figure 3 is a view illustrating the inside of a frame member of the fluff filter.

A tumble drier according to Figure 1 has a front loading port 5 which can be closed in an air-tight manner by a door 6 during a drying operation. The tumble drier works with warmed drying airwhich, after flowing through the drum, (not shown in detail), flows through a perforated ring 8 arranged on a laundry deflector 7 of the door 6 and via an exhaust air opening 9 in a cylindrical liner 10 in which a fluff filter 11 according to the invention, and as illustrated in Figure 2 can be suspended through an exhaust air duct 12 and through a hose connection branch 13 via an exhaust air hose, (not shown) and into the open orto a condensation device.

The fluff filter 11, as shown in Figure 2, is V-shaped in cross-section and, on its top side 14, has a peripheral flange 15, and by means of which it can be suspended in a corresponding recess (not shown) in the inlet zone of the exhaust air opening 9 in the liner 10, in the exhaust air duct 12. Via an inlet aperture 16 on the upper side of the filter a drying airstream carrying fluff flows into the fluff filter 11 and, having been cleaned on passage through a close-mesh synthetic plastics gauze 17 on relatively large outer faces 18, it leaves the fluff filter 11 in the direction of the exhaust air duct 12.

As can be seen from Figure 2, the fluff filter 11 consists of a frame 19 which is formed by two absolutely identical frame members 21,22, as illustrated in Figure 3, which frame members can be fitted together along their central longitudinal plane 20. Each frame member 21,22 is provided on its contact surface 23 which is disposed towards the other frame member 22,21 respectively with a peripheral web 24 which extends in the fitting direction. A further web 27 offset inwards by the web width and projecting by the web height is arranged on the peripheral web 24. The web 27 extends along a smaller dimensioned side, for example, 25, of each frame member and along an adjoining longer dimensioned side 26 to the central vertical axis of the filter.Due to this web design, an absolutely identical shape of the two frame parts 21,22 with an adequate labyrinth seal in the assembled state has been created. The labyrinth seal effect can be substantially improved, if the smaller side 25 and the longer side 26 up to the central vertical axis having the web 27 additionally offset inwards by the web width and projecting by the web height beyond the encircling web 24, are associated with a further web 28 which is spaced outwards by the web width and projects by the web height. As a result of this arrangement, a U-shaped slot is formed, into which the peripheral web 24 ofthe otherframe member 21 or22 enters when assembled and thus forming a twin labyrinth seal.

To hold the two frame members 21,22 together in their final assembled position according to Figure 2, they are provided in their rim zone with integrally moulded push-fit connections 29 to 32, one push-fit connection 29 to 32 preferably being provided adjacent each corner of the rim zone. Advantageously, however, the two push-fit connections 30, 31 on the lower longer side 26 of each frame member are designed as push-in hinges, one of which acts as a passive push-in part and the other as an active push-in part.To enable the fluff filter 11 according to Figure 2 to be conveniently suspended in the installed position shown in Figure 1 and also to be removed again for cleaning, a peg 33 spaced from the central vertical symmetrical plane and serving as a gripping element is arranged adjacent the top side 14 of each of the frame members 21, 22. These pegs 33 extend into the inlet aperture 16 of the fluff filter 11, determine the spacing of the two frame parts 21, 22 from each other when assembled and can conveniently be gripped with two fingers for removing and suspending them in operative position.

To prevent the fluff retained in the fluff filter from dropping off the gauze 17 when the fluff filter 11 is opened, a stop (not shown) is provided on the lower longer side 26, which stop makes it impossible for the two frame parts 21,22 to be opened by more than 1800 about the hinges 30,31.

Claims (11)

1. A fluff filter for a tumble drier in which a stream of drying air leaving a drum in the region of a front loading port can be passed to an exhaust air duct extending downwards behind the front of a housing, said fluff filter being of substantially Vshaped cross-section and being adapted to be suspended in the inlet of the exhaust air duct where it can be subjected internally to the airstream and said filter being formed by a frame which is open at the top and is surrounded by an envelope of filter material, characterised in that the frame is formed by two substantially identical frame members which can be abutted together, each frame member being provided, on its contact surfaces adapted to be disposed towards the other frame member respectively, with a peripheral first web extending in the fitting direction, and with a second web which is offset inwards by a web width and projects by the web height and is disposed along one side and along an adjoining lower side up to a location adjacent the middle thereof and each frame member is provided with filter material.

2. A filter according to Claim 1, in which the side provided with the second web which is offset inwards by the web width and projects by the web height in relation to the peripheral first web is associated with a third web offset outwards from said second web by a web width and projecting by the web height.

3. A filter according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the lower side adjoining said one side is associated with a further web offset outwards by a web width and projecting by the web height.

4. A filter according to any of claims 1 to 3, in which connection means are provided adjacent the edges of the two frame members, said connection means being integrally moulded thereon.

5. A filter according to Claim 4, in which connection means is provided adjacent each corner edge portions of the two frame members.

6. A filter according to Claim Sin which the connection means in the lower corner edge portions of the frame members are disposed on a lower longitudinal side.

7. A filter according to Claim 6, in which the two connection means on the lower longitudinal side of the frame members are formed as push-in hinges.

8. A filter according to any preceding Claim, in which a peg is provided adjacent the top side of each of the frame members, said peg being spaced from the central vertical axis of the filter and being adapted to serve as gripping means for assisting in insertion or removal of the filter into or from its operative position.

9. A filter as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which the filter material comprises a close-mesh gauze of synthetic plastics material.

10. A fluff filter for a tumble drier, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. Atumble drier in which a stream of drying air leaving a drum in the region of a front loading port can be passed to an exhaust air duct extending downwards behind the front of a housing characterised in that said drier is provided with a filter as claimed in any preceding claim.