GB2134635A

GB2134635A - Air filtration in a laundry drier

Info

Publication number: GB2134635A
Application number: GB08400765A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Setecki; Armin Zibold
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-02-09
Filing date: 1984-01-12
Publication date: 1984-08-15
Also published as: FR2540530B1; DE3304441A1; GB8400765D0; FR2540530A1; IT1173172B; DE3304441C2; IT8419379A0; GB2134635B

Abstract

As removable filter frame 1 is lowered into vertical shaft 8 in tumble drier door 6 shoulders 91, 92, 93, 94 on the shaft side engage matching ramps 11, 12, 13 on the frame 1, so that when the filter is fully inserted a seal 5 surrounding filter mesh 4 is pressed against the imperforate edge of perforated pate 7. Air from within the drier passes through the perforations in the plate 7, is filtered by mesh 4 and passes into a duct in door 6. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Air filtration in a laundry drier The present invention relates to a laundry drier and has particular reference to air filtration means in such a drier.

A known lint filter for that purpose is received in an upwardly open shaft or well and comprises a frame with a stretched fabric or mesh (DE-GM 81 30 602).

During the insertion of the frame into the shaft, canting may occur, which obstructs the insertion of the frame.

Moreover, the play between the frame of the filter and the shaft components must not be too small, in order that the filter can be inserted easily.

On the other hand, this play can lead to gaps through which lint from the drying space can escape into the exhaust air duct or the circulating air duct. Lint deposited therein increases the flow resistance and can be removed only with some difficultly. Lint deposited in the circulating air duct can also impair the function of further components, for example a condenser, fan or heater.

It would thus be desirable to eliminate such gaps and to facilitate the reinsertion of the filter by the operators who must occasionally withdraw the filter from the shaft for cleaning.

According to the present invention there is provided a laundry drier comprising an air outlet duct and a lint filter which is insertable into a reception well in the duct through an opening in the duct wall and which comprises a frame, a filter mesh arranged in the frame and a seal arranged at an air entry side of the frame to surround the mesh and to be engageable with wall means at an air entry side of the well, the frame being so shaped at an air exit side thereof opposite the air entry side that in the inserted state of the filter the depth of the frame between said sides reduces in steps in direction away from the opening and the well being bounded at an air exit side thereof opposite the air entry side thereof by filter support means so shaped as to approach the air entry side of the well in steps in direction away from the opening and so arranged that the shoulders of the steps of the support means pressurably engage the shoulders of the steps of the frame in the inserted state of the filter.

In a preferred embodiment, the filter can, during the insertion, be dropped into the well without expenditure of force and, guided by the shoulders of the steps, be pressed in flow direction with its seal against frame means of the well.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a front view, at an air entry side, a lint filter of a laundry drier embodying the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a vertical section, along the line Il-Il in Fig. 1, of the lint filter in a shaft, also shown in section, in a door of the drier.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a lint filter comprising a frame 1 which at its upper side has a transverse carrier 2 structured in the form of a grip. In the middle of the upper side, the carrier has an upwardly protruding ramp 3, which in use serves to press the frame 1 downwardly in a shaft 8 in an inwardly projecting pot-shaped portion 6 of a door movable to open and close a loading opening of the drier, the ramp engaging the rim of the loading opening on closing of the door.

The frame 1 is filled out at its inside by a stretched fabric 4, the mesh width of which is related to the lint to be filtered out. The lint is retained at the fabric 4 and can be easily removed after withdrawal of the filter from the shaft.

An encircling seal 5 is fastened at the end face.

shown in Fig. 1, of the frame 1. As can be seen in Fig. 2 the seal 5 is laid into a groove bounding the fabric 4.

The filter, illustrated in vertical section in Fig. 2, is shown inserted in the shaft 8 of the portion 6, which at an air entry side of the filter has a perforated plate 7. The plate 7 protects the fabric 4 against contact with laundry tumbling in a drying drum in front of the plate 7, which plate froms the well of the shaft 8 at the air entry side.

A frame 9 of the shaft is constructed in stepped shape at the air exit side in such a manner that the clear width of the shaft reduces in steps 91, 92 and 93 seen from the top to the bottom. Similarly, the frame 1 of the filter has associated steps 1 1, 12 and 13, whereby the frame depth also reduces in stepped manner considered from the top to the bottom. The frame depth at any point corresponds approximately to the clear width of the shaft at an associated point so that the seal 5 lies closely against the plate 7.

During insertion of the filter into the shaft, the least deep part of the frame 1 initially enters into the largest clear width part of the shaft, then the next deepest part of the frame 1 enters the second smaller clear width of the shaft, and so forth, so that the filter is guided in easy motion up to interengagement of the shoulders of the steps, which are respectively associated each with the other, of the frame 1 and the frame 9. The seal 5 is pressed against the inside of the plate 7 only when the shoulders are pushed one over the other.

Thereby, the seal 5 is relieved of any frictional force displacing it laterally during the insertion of the filter. Additionally, the frame 1 is retained in the direction of the air entry side at its lower end by a further step 94 of the frame 9 and at its upper end by a resilient frame part 95.

Thus, the filter in the operative position is pressed against the perforated plate 7 at eight uniformly distributed points, indicated by crosses in Fig. 1, whereby a gapless seal is formed.

1. A laundry drier comprising an air outlet duct and a lint filter which is insertable into a reception well in the duct through an opening in the duct

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Air filtration in a laundry drier The present invention relates to a laundry drier and has particular reference to air filtration means in such a drier. A known lint filter for that purpose is received in an upwardly open shaft or well and comprises a frame with a stretched fabric or mesh (DE-GM 81 30 602). During the insertion of the frame into the shaft, canting may occur, which obstructs the insertion of the frame. Moreover, the play between the frame of the filter and the shaft components must not be too small, in order that the filter can be inserted easily. On the other hand, this play can lead to gaps through which lint from the drying space can escape into the exhaust air duct or the circulating air duct. Lint deposited therein increases the flow resistance and can be removed only with some difficultly. Lint deposited in the circulating air duct can also impair the function of further components, for example a condenser, fan or heater. It would thus be desirable to eliminate such gaps and to facilitate the reinsertion of the filter by the operators who must occasionally withdraw the filter from the shaft for cleaning. According to the present invention there is provided a laundry drier comprising an air outlet duct and a lint filter which is insertable into a reception well in the duct through an opening in the duct wall and which comprises a frame, a filter mesh arranged in the frame and a seal arranged at an air entry side of the frame to surround the mesh and to be engageable with wall means at an air entry side of the well, the frame being so shaped at an air exit side thereof opposite the air entry side that in the inserted state of the filter the depth of the frame between said sides reduces in steps in direction away from the opening and the well being bounded at an air exit side thereof opposite the air entry side thereof by filter support means so shaped as to approach the air entry side of the well in steps in direction away from the opening and so arranged that the shoulders of the steps of the support means pressurably engage the shoulders of the steps of the frame in the inserted state of the filter. In a preferred embodiment, the filter can, during the insertion, be dropped into the well without expenditure of force and, guided by the shoulders of the steps, be pressed in flow direction with its seal against frame means of the well. An embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a front view, at an air entry side, a lint filter of a laundry drier embodying the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a vertical section, along the line Il-Il in Fig. 1, of the lint filter in a shaft, also shown in section, in a door of the drier. Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a lint filter comprising a frame 1 which at its upper side has a transverse carrier 2 structured in the form of a grip. In the middle of the upper side, the carrier has an upwardly protruding ramp 3, which in use serves to press the frame 1 downwardly in a shaft 8 in an inwardly projecting pot-shaped portion 6 of a door movable to open and close a loading opening of the drier, the ramp engaging the rim of the loading opening on closing of the door. The frame 1 is filled out at its inside by a stretched fabric 4, the mesh width of which is related to the lint to be filtered out. The lint is retained at the fabric 4 and can be easily removed after withdrawal of the filter from the shaft. An encircling seal 5 is fastened at the end face. shown in Fig. 1, of the frame 1. As can be seen in Fig. 2 the seal 5 is laid into a groove bounding the fabric 4. The filter, illustrated in vertical section in Fig. 2, is shown inserted in the shaft 8 of the portion 6, which at an air entry side of the filter has a perforated plate 7. The plate 7 protects the fabric 4 against contact with laundry tumbling in a drying drum in front of the plate 7, which plate froms the well of the shaft 8 at the air entry side. A frame 9 of the shaft is constructed in stepped shape at the air exit side in such a manner that the clear width of the shaft reduces in steps 91, 92 and 93 seen from the top to the bottom. Similarly, the frame 1 of the filter has associated steps 1 1, 12 and 13, whereby the frame depth also reduces in stepped manner considered from the top to the bottom. The frame depth at any point corresponds approximately to the clear width of the shaft at an associated point so that the seal 5 lies closely against the plate 7. During insertion of the filter into the shaft, the least deep part of the frame 1 initially enters into the largest clear width part of the shaft, then the next deepest part of the frame 1 enters the second smaller clear width of the shaft, and so forth, so that the filter is guided in easy motion up to interengagement of the shoulders of the steps, which are respectively associated each with the other, of the frame 1 and the frame 9. The seal 5 is pressed against the inside of the plate 7 only when the shoulders are pushed one over the other. Thereby, the seal 5 is relieved of any frictional force displacing it laterally during the insertion of the filter. Additionally, the frame 1 is retained in the direction of the air entry side at its lower end by a further step 94 of the frame 9 and at its upper end by a resilient frame part 95. Thus, the filter in the operative position is pressed against the perforated plate 7 at eight uniformly distributed points, indicated by crosses in Fig. 1, whereby a gapless seal is formed. CLAIMS

1. A laundry drier comprising an air outlet duct and a lint filter which is insertable into a reception well in the duct through an opening in the duct wall and which comprises a frame, a filter mesh arranged in the frame and a seal arranged at an air entry side of the frame to surround the mesh and to be engageable with wall means at an air entry side of the well, the frame being so shaped at an air exit side thereof opposite the air entry side that in the inserted state of the filter the depth of the frame between said sides reduces in steps in direction away from the opening and the well being bounded at an air exit side thereof opposite the air entry side thereof by filter support means so shaped as to approach the air entry side of the well in steps in direction away from the opening and so arranged that the shoulders of the steps of the support means pressurably engage the shoulders of the steps of the frame in the inserted state of the filter.

2. A drier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seal comprises an endless element of resilient material having a low coefficient of friction, the element being located in a groove extending around the mesh.

3. A drier as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the frame and the support means each have three such steps, the steps of the frame being defined by a respective stepped portion at each of two opposite members of the frame and the steps of the support means being defined by a respective stepped support at each of two opposite sides of the well.

4. A drier as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein in the inserted state of the filter the shoulder of each of the steps of the frame engages the shoulder of a respectively associated one of the steps of the support means over a length of substantially five millimetres.

5. A drier as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising means to support the frame at a substantially central portion of at least one of a member thereof closest to and a member thereof furthest from the opening in the inserted state of the filter.

6. A drier as claimed in claim 5, said means to support the frame comprising a resilient element engaging the frame member closest to the opening in the inserted state of the filter.

7. A drier as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the well is provided in a projecting portion of a door movable to open and close a loading opening of the drier, the projecting portion of the door being engageable in the loading opening on closing of the door, and wherein the filter is so positionable in the well when the door is open that a portion of the frame of the filter projects out of the well, said frame portion being provided with a cam surface portion so cooperable with the rim of the loading opening on closing of the door as to cause the filter to be pushed fully into the well.

8. A laundry drier substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.