GB2272753A - Tumble dryer - Google Patents

Abstract

A clothes dryer has a sealable chamber (6), a vacuum pump (7), for evacuation of the chamber and an inner tumble drum (5). Water vapour is evacuated from the chamber resulting in vapourisation of more water to maintain water vapour pressure equilibrium. The water is continually vapourised and expelled from the chamber leaving the chamber and contents free of water. The tumble drum rotates enhancing the vapourisation process and even drying. A low power heater may be used to enhance vapourisation. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Environmentally Friendly Clothes Dryer DESCRIPTION The invention relates to a low power, environmentally friendly clothes dryer.

Clothes dryers work by heating clothing by either electric filament or gas flame. The heat is blown into a heating chamber which contains a tumble drum which rotates to give even heat and dispersal of water. The slow rotation of the clothing also tumbles the clothing, increasing the exposure of wet clothing - water - to air thereby increasing the surface area for vapourisation of water.

Filament heating however consumes a great deal of energy, as does gas heating. Gas heating is technically less effective, as a biproduct of combustion is water.

The other biproduct, CO2, is also unfavourable in its effect on man and the environment, an exhaust duct is required. Both forms represent a potential fire hazard and require protective devices. They expel useful heat energy. The tumbler must be made of a highly corrosion resilient material due to the mixture of heat, water, oxygen and, in the case of flame heating, carbonic acid.

They also require more manufacturing technology and components than the proposed dryer. Both forms of dryer may, by heat, denature or deteriorate the clothing.

According to the present invention there is a sealable chamber/tumbler that is evacuated by vacuum pump. The water vapourises from the clothing replacing evacuated air and preceding vapour.

The proposed invention is specific to the problem of removing water from clothing. The advantages are as follows: 1. Elimination of heat and its unfavourable action on clothing, particularly woollens 2. Reduction in the activity of oxidising agents in the chamber ie., H2O, HCO3 and H+ and heat.

Specifications of resistance to oxidation of chamber may be reduced.

3. Reduced fire risk.

4. Elimination of large heat/fire duct with protective lagging. (Though a duct would be needed).

5. Reducing fuel expense and consumption.

6. Elimination of CO2 production leading to greenhouse effect or possibly asphyxiation with bad ventilation.

7. Eliminates need for heat tolerant materials, insulations or fail safe mechanisms, and power switching, in the case of the heater element dryers.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows in perspective the clothes dryer.

The door for access to the tumble dryer is absent for simplicity.

Figure 2 shows the clothes dryer with door viewed from above.

Referring to the drawing of the clothes dryer 1 as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2, the glass door 11, with hinge 13 and catch 10, allow access to the tumble chamber 6 and resealing of the tumble chamber, by pressure of the glass door on the rubber door seal 12.

With the motors switched on, the tumble drum 5 is rotated with the aid of the tumble motor 2; the vacuum pump 7 evacuates the vacuum chamber 4 and thus also evacuates the inner tumble drum. Excess water is drawn out of the vacuum chamber through vacuum pump inlet pipe 9 and outlet pipe 8 into a drain. As a vacuum is formed, clothing is dried. After drying, the door 11 is stuck to the rubber door seal by the pressure difference across the glass, this pressure is relieved by the back-flow, leakage of air through the vacuum pump once the pump is switched off.

Claims (5)

1. An environmentally friendly clothes dryer comprising a chamber and a means of evacuating vapour from the chamber.

2. An environmentally friendly clothes dryer as claimed in Claim 1, wherein heat is conducted to the tumble dryer to warm clothing and enhance water vapourisation.

3. An environmentally friendly clothes dryer as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the chamber contains a rotating drum to enhance vapourisation.

An An environmentally friendly clothes dryer as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein a sensor regulates evacuation of the chamber by vacuum pump.

5. An environmentally friendly clothes dryer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompany drawings.