GB2246624A - Tumble-drier filter coupling device - Google Patents

Abstract

A coupling device is described for retaining a filter (4, 5) on a tumble-drier drum (1). The device consists of two press members (20, 21) between which is sandwiched a deformable stopper (8). One press member (20) is provided with a connecting rod (7) which passes through the other press member and is pivotally attached to a cammed lever (6). Operation of the lever squeezes the stopper (8) between the press members (20, 21) causing it to splay outward and engage a shoulder (9) on the drum (1). <IMAGE>

Description

_Q G. ES 2 -11 1 i TUMBLE-DRIER FILTER COUPLING DEVICE The present

invention relates to a tumble-drier filter coupling device, and particularly to the f ilter structure and the means employed to attach the filter to the tumbledrier's rotating drum so that it rotates together with the drum during drying and therefore during fan action, and to allow the filter easily to be dismounted whenever required, e.g. for cleaning.

Tumble-driers normally comprise a rotating drum, which can be filled with clothes, having an inlet and an outlet duct at respective ends through the inlet of which hot air is blown by a fan usually positioned toward its lower regions, which air passes through the clothes contained inside the drum and reaches the outlet-to exit the drum.

Thus, in conventional tumble-driers, hot air is blown in by a fan, funnelled through the tumbler drum, which is rotated by a drive motor which also drives the air fan, the fan being,. as aforesaid, housed-inside the inlet duct.

Clearly, one of the drum's bases or ends is provided with a hole in communication with the inlet duct which directs the hot air towards the inside of the drum, whereas the opposite base or end is provided with another hole for the air to leave toward the outlet duct. The moist air is then directed into the open through the outlet duct and/or an extension thereof.

Naturally, when the clothes are dried in the manner described above, they will tend to release dirt and textile and other particles which may render outlet of the air from the drum difficult at the outlet duct, owing to the propensity of those particles to clog the outlet. Tumble-driers are usually provided with filters to overcome this problem so as to intercept and hold the clogging products or particles. 35 Nevertheless, filters provided in conventional tumbledriers cannot easily be dismounted since they are not located in areas which the user can easily reach and do not have simple means for coupling and uncoupling then to and 2 1 from the tumble-drier body, thus failing to fulfil their function efficiently.

The object of the invention is to provide mounting means for the filter enabling its mounting and dismounting to be sufficiently quick and easy for the user to do it without requiring the help of a specialist, as well as locating the filter in a suitable place and position so as satisfactorily to carry out its function.

Accordingly, the invention provides a filter coupling device for a tumble-drier including means 'for engaging either a tumble- drier drum or a filter therefor; coupling means movable between a locking position, in which it is adapted to engage the other of the drum and the filter to retain the f ilter over the air outlet of the drum, and a releasing position; and a manual control operable to move the coupling means between its locking and releasing positions. In this way, the tumble-drier f ilter can quickly and easily be coupled to or uncoupled from the drum, by operation of the mandal control, and the control can be made 20- easily accessible to a user, e.g. through the door of the tumble- drier.

Preferably, the manual control is movable between an open position, corresponding to the releasing position of the coupling means, and a closed position, corresponding to the locking position. With this arrangement, the user can easily identify, by inspection or by touch, whether or not the coupling means is engaged by determining whether the manual control is in its open or its closed position. Simple movement of the manual control from one position to the other will reliably engage or disengage the coupling means.

More preferably, each of the open and closed positions of the manual control is a stable equilibrium. This gives the user a tactile indication that the relevant position has been reached, and obviates the need for visual inspection. In addition, the likelihood of the manual control, and therefore the coupling means, becoming dislodged from either of its positions is minimised.

i i i 1 i 1 3 In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the coupling means includes a resilient member which biases it toward its releasing position. The advantage of this arrangement is self evident. In addition, it is also preferred that the potential energy of the resilient member be greater when the manual control is in a predetermined position between its open and closed positions than when the manual control is in either its open or its closed position. This ensures that each of the open and closed positions of the manual control is a stable equilibrium.

More preferably, the coupling means further comprises first and second relatively moveable press members and the resilient member comprises a deformable stopper sandwiched between the press members, the arrangement being such that when the coupling means is in its locking position, the press members are more closely spaced than when the coupling means is in its releasing position, thereby compressing the def ormable stopper in one direction, but causing it to expand in at least one other direction frictionally to engage the said other of the drum and the filter.

In such a case, it is preferred that the f irst press member include a connecting rod which passes through the second press member and is connected at its free end to the manual control. Preferably the manual control is pivotally connected to the connecting rod and includes a cam surface to engage the second press member and regulate the spacing between the first and second press members. This provides a simple and effective realisation of the present invention.

The coupling device may also include a f ilter grid integral with the second press member, the grid including at least one abutment to hold a filter sieve against the drum.

There is also provided a tumble-drier drum having a filter retained over its air outlet by means of a coupling device according to the invention. preferably the coupling device engages a shoulder formed integrally with the spin shaft of the drum.

There is finally provided a tumble-drier including such a drum as above.

4 In order to provide a fuller description and contribute to the complete understanding of the characteristics of this invention, a single figure is attached to the specification which, while purely illustrative and not fully comprehensive, shows a diametral plane sectional representation of a f ilter assembly mounted on a tumbledrier drum, fitted with a coupling device to mount andlor lock and unlock the filter on and/or to and from the drum.

In the light of this figure, the drum (1) base on which the filter is mounted is provided with the respective holes (2) for outlet of air to the outlet duct (3) mounted at its base, and through which duct (3) hot air which has previously gone through clothes contained inside the drum (1) exits, the air flow being generated by a. fan which blows it through an inlet duct provided at the other base of the drum (1).

The filter, with its coupling device', comprises a grid (4) and a closegrained sieve (5) ' attached to each other and making up an assembly that can be dismounted. The f ilter is joined to the drum (1) in order to rotate with - the latter, through a coupling device comprising an actuation control (6) that can take up two positions, viz.

an open position, which is horizontal as shown in the f igure, and a closed position, with the said control (6) vertical when turned downward. At all events, the control (6) is joined to a connecting rod (7) linking up with a deformable stopper (8) adapted to engage a shoulder (9) formed integrally with an element (10) which has an axial extension (11) making up the drum's spin shaft. As can be seen, the stopper is retained between first (20) and second (21) press members, one of which is connected to the rod (7), the other of which is acted on by a cam surface of the manual control or actuation control (6). The axial extension (11) rests on a box (12) attached to a section (13) integral with the general tumbler structure.

In other words, as the drum (1) is integrally connected to element (10) by means of screws (14), it will spin with the element, and this element is therefore the drum's zpin i i 1 i 1 shaft, and the filter made up by the grid (4) and sieve (5) will rotate together with the drum (1) because of the fact that when the control (6) is in the closed position, the rod's (7) respective displacement causes the stopper (8) to be deformed, thereby splaying it and making it push against the inner side surface of the shoulder (9). This pressure against the shoulder's inner side surface causes the filter assembly to be fixed to the drum (1), since such attachment is to element (10) to which the drum (1), as aforesaid, is - f ixed.

For uncoupling purposes, it will suf f ice to turn the control (6) to the open position, since the stopper's deformation upon such actuation shall cause the shoulder (9) to be released, and the filter formed by the grid (4) and sieve (5) may therefore be removed from the drum (1).

There is finally left to say that the section (13) to which box (12) is fixed by'means of screws (13) allows air inside the duct (3), such air to be directed downward to be dispersed into the open.

The materials, shape, size and layout of the elements _may be altered provided that this entails no modification of the essential features of the invention.

It will of course be understood that the invention has been described above purely by way of example and that 'modifications of detail may be made without departing from its scope as defined by the following claims.

6

Claims (13)

1. A filter coupling device for a tumble-drier including means for engaging either a tumble-drier drum or a filter therefor; coupling means movable between a locking position, in which it is adapted to engage the other of the drum and the filter to retain the filter over the air outlet of the drum, and a releasing position; and a manual control operable to move the coupling means between its locking and 10 releasing positions.

2.

A coupling device according to claim 1 in which the manual control is movable between an open position, corresponding to the releasing position of the coupling means, and a closed position, corresponding to the locking' position.

3. A coupling device according to claim 2 in which each of the open and closed positions of the manual control is a stable equilibrium.

4. A coupling device according to any preceding claim in which the coupling means includes a resilient member which biases the coupling means toward its releasing position.

5. A coupling device according to claim 3 and claim 4 in which the potential energy of the resilient member is greater when the manual control is in a predetermined position between its open and closed positions than when the manual control is in either its open or its closed position.

6. A coupling device according to claim 4 or claim 5 in which the coupling means further comprises f irst and second relatively moveable press members and the resilient member comprises a deformable stopper sandwiched between the press members, the arrangement being such that when the coupling means is in its locking position, the press members 1 1 1 i 1 1 1 1 i ' 1 7 are more closely spaced than when the coupling means is in its releasing position, thereby compressing the deformable stopper in one direction, but causing it to expand in at least one other direction frictionally to engage the said other of the drum and the filter.

7. A coupling device according to claim 6 in which the first press member includes a connecting rod which passes through the second press member and is connected at its free end to the manual control.

8. A coupling device according to claim 7 and either claim 2 or claim 3 in which the manual control is pivotally connected to the connecting rod and includes a cam surface to engage the second press member and regulate the spacing between the first and second press members.

9. A coupling device according to any one of claims 68 including a filter grid integral with the sepond press member, the filter grid including at least one abutment to hold a filter sieve against the drum.

10. A coupling device substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.

11. A tumble-drier drum having a filter retained over its air outlet by means of a coupling device according to any preceding claim.

12. A tumble-drier drum according to claim 11 in which the coupling device engages a shoulder formed integrally with the spin shaft of the drum.

13. A tumble-drier including a drum according to claim 11 or claim 12.

Published 1992 at The Patent Office. Concept House, Cardiff Road. Newport. Gwent NP9 I RH. Further copies may be obtained from Sales Branch. Unit 6. Nine Mile Point. Cwnifelinfach. Cross Keys. Newport, NPI 7HZ. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd. St Marv Cray. Kent.