US2680915A - Clothes drier - Google Patents

Description

T. R. SMITH CLOTHES DRIER June l5, 1954 Filed Feb. 5, 1955 3 ySheets-Sheet l O OO O O O O O O O O O O O O G O O O O O O O O O G O O O G O O O O O O O O ATTORNEYS.

CLOTHES DRIER Filed Feb. 5, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I l INVENTOR f/Zom j?. m/z,

June l5, 1954 T. R. sMrrH 2,680,915`

CLOTHES DRIER Filed Feb. 5, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

A ORNEYS Patented June l5, 1954 CLOTHES DRIER Thomas R. Smith, Newton, Iowa.,

Maytag Company, Newton,

of Delaware assignor to The Iowa, a corporation Application February 5, 1953, Serial No. 335,184

Claims.

The invention relates to clothes driers and more particularly to clothes driers of the tumbler type incorporating a vapor condensing area. As to all common subject-matter it is a partial continuation of my copending application, Serial No. 259,580, led December 3, 1951, for Clothes Drier.

In the operation of clothes driers, the accumulation and disposition of lint shaken from the fabrics being dried is a troublesome problem, especially so with the type of clothes drier which uses a cold wall or section for condensing the vapor evaporated from the clothing during the drying operation. In constructions of this type an area about the condensing section has a tendency to be cooled to a temperature below the dew point of the vapor, with the result a. certain percentage of the vapor condenses thereat and any lint falling on this cool moist surface is retained and begins to collect or accumulate thereon. Alternate moistening and drying oi the lint tends to mat the same as it accumulates and eventually it may cause malfunction of the drier, and also result in odors should bacteria form in the moist collected lint.

In accordance with the invention, a tumbler type clothes drier is provided which comprises a horizontally rotatable drum mounted in a substantially imperforate stationary casing. A heating element is disposed within the casing to evaporate the moisture in the clothing and one section of the lower wall of the casing is cooled by means of a thin film of water flowing downwardly over the inner surface or periphery to provide a condensing section or area for condensing the vapor evaporated from the clothing. Since this area or surface provides the coldest point in the casing, the iiow of vapor will naturally be in the direction of the condensing area whereat it will condense and flow along with the cooling water to drain. At the same time, the air or vapor-borne lint will move along with the vapor, contact the condensing area and be discharged to drain also. A pair of parallel spaced arcuate thermal insulating strips are secured to the inner periphery of the casing on opposite sides oi the downwardly flowing water to define a channel for the condensing water, and also insulate the surrounding area or" the casing to dene a relatively sharp line of demarcation for the temperature between the condensing area and the remainder of the casing. In addition, the thermal insulating strips tend to absorb radiant heat to further increase the temperature difference between the two areas.

While a major portion of the lint will move to the condensing area, there still is a tendency for a small portion of the lint to collect on the thermal strips. To eliminate this as a lint problem, radially outwardly projecting wiping or scraping members are mounted on the outer periphery of the drum which are adapted to contact the exposed surface of the thermal strips upon each revolution and move any lint falling thereon downwardly, whereat it is moved into a catch basin and discharged to drain along with the condensate and condensing water,

Accordingly, it is one of the objects of the invention to provide a tumbler type clothes drier having a casing with a liquid cooled vapor condensing surface therein which has spaced strips to define a channel for the condensing liquid.

lt is another object of the invention to provide a tumbler type clothes drier having a casing with a liquid cooled section which is confined to a denite channel by a pair of spaced thermal insulating strips.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a clothes drier having a closed casing with a liquid cooled vapor condensing section therein which has a pair of spaced thermal insulating strips on either side of the condensing section to restrict the condensation of vapor thereto.

it is yet another object of the invention to provide a clothes drier including a sealed casing having' a water cooled condensing section therein and a clothes tumbling drum which is provided with wiper members for removing the lint collecting adjacent the condensing section.

It is another object oi the invention to provide a clothes drier including a sealed casing having a liquid cooled condensing section deiined by spaced thermal insulating strips and a rotatable tumbling drum therein with wiping members secured thereto which engage the thermal strips to remove lint therefrom.

Itis still another object of the invention to pro vide a tumbler type clothes drier having a sealed casing which is compact and wherein the evaporating and condensing operations take place within the casing and the lint is removed from the area surrounding the condensing section and ilushed to drain.

Other objects, features, capabilities and advantages are comprehended by the invention, as will later appear and as are inherently possessed thereby.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a longitudinal vertical sectional View of a tumbler type clothes drier having the improved thermal insulating strips and lint removing members attached thereto;

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional View of the clothes dried taken generally along the line 2-2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a view taken generally along the line lS-- of Figure 2, with the drum removed, showing more in detail the liquid cooled condensingf section and thermal strips;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the condensing water inlet and wiping members passing over the thermal strips as shown in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view showing the wiping members disposed at an angle with respect to the axis of the drum and the thermal insulating strips; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line eof Figure 3.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings for an embodiment selected to illustrate the invention, there is showna tumbler type clothes drier lil having a horizontally mounted rotatable drum l i enveloped or encompassedby a substantially imperforate stationary sheet metal casing or container l2 providing a-drying chamber (3 inwhich the drum i@ rotates. rThe container or casing is suitably supported on a base frame l by means of a transverse web iii located adjacent its forward portion and an upwardly directed'box or channel structure i6 carried at its back portion and the entire assembly is surrounded by a cabinet construction il to provide a pleasing appearance.

The drum ll includes an outer perorate cylindrical wall i8, a front wall IS, having an access opening 2S therein through which the clothing to be dried is inserted and removed, and an perforate rear wall 2 l. A supporting spider construction 22 has its outer ends 23 secured to the rear wall 2l adjacent the outer periphery of the drum and its innermost portion terminates in a hub construction 2 for receiving the forward end of a horizontal supporting or drum shaft 26 concentric to the drum axis for rotating the drum H. Elevating or agitating vanes 2'5 forming part of the cylindrical wall i8 are spaced within the drum to provide vthe means for agitating the clothing in a tumbling manner'when the drum is rotated.

The drum shaft 2% extends axially rearwardly iromthe hub 2t through'the container l2 and its outer end has a driven pulley 28 of any suitable type secured thereto. driven at a reduced speed by means of a speed reduction pulley and belt arrangement connected to any suitable drivemeans, such as, for example, a motor 3! resiliently mounted on the base frame construction l. In addition, the drum shaft is preferably vjournalled in a pair of spaced bearings 32 mounted in a horizontally projecting tubular housing construction 33 which in turn is rigidly secured to the rear channel structure iE through abraclet 313 to hold the drum steady during all phases of operation. It is to be understood any suitable supporting and driving means may be provided for the rotatable drum Irl.

The container or casing l2 surrounding the drum l l includes a substantially imperforate longitudinally extending wall 36 whose lower sector 31 is generally cylindrical in transverse section and axially recessed at its lowermost portion for substantially its entire length to provide a water collecting trap or sump 38, a rear wall 39, having a small opening llt therein through which lthe drum shaft 2t extends, and a front wall 4I having an access opening ll2 in line with the access Thispulley may be 'ering or encompassing container I2, base frame construction Nl, drive -inechanism 3l and other auxiliary equipment,

has an access opening il@ in its front wall l in alignment with the access openings l2 and 29,

respectively, in the casing and drum, and the cabinet opening "ll-e is provided with a hinged insulatedv door or closure de which is moved from its open to its closed position by the operator. Covthe aligned access openings is a resilient combination gasket and seal 49 which includes a forwardly projecting portion 5i) for engaging the inner surface of the door 48 to seal Aabout the opening, a central portion "5l carried between the adjacent portions of the cabinet and casing to provide a static seal and a rearwardly projecting annular portion 52 overlapping the access opening 2@ in the-drum ll to provide a def-lector to prevent articles of clothing from beingsnared between the rotating drum andstationary casing.

'Inordcr to evaporate the moisture in the clothing, heat from a suitable gas or electric source must be suppl-ied'to thedryingchamber i3. lIn the modication shown, there is disclosed, by way of example, a pair of standard sheathed electric heating elements 53 which are mounted within the drying chamber i3 in oppositely disposed recessed portions 54 at the upper section of the casing beyond the outer periphery I8 of the drum.

ince the stationary container l2 is not provided with an inlet nor an outlet, as such, means inust 1rse-provided -to dispose of the vapor evaporated rfrom the moist clothing being dried, also the lint shaken from the'clothing. in the preferred form, the vapor is condensed by having it directly contact a zone or area 56 on one side of the vlower cylindrical wall portion el oi the container l2 Awhich is directly cooled by a stream or thin nlm of cool water iowing over its inner Surface or periphery. The cooling or condensing water may be supplied from any suitable source of supply'under the control of a solenoid operated watercontrol valve 53 and is discharged from the downwardly directed end of a conduit 59 into a distribution box or receptacle Sti whose inner wall 6l is formed by part of the wall 36 of the casing and denes'the upper end of the condensing section or zone'ii. The portion of the casing l2 defining the inner wall Si or the water distributing receptacle t6 is provided with a plurality of parallel and horizontally spaced small orifices or openings 52 through which the water lflows by gravity during the drying operation.

Covering these openings within the casing is a curtain type flap or check valve t3, made o relatively thin plastic material having non-sticking or adhesion resistant characteristics, anchored to the casing at its upper end 511 and free at its lower end 55. in this 'manner the condensing water'fl'ows throughrthe distributing orifices 62 and downwardly between the bottom of the check valve 53 and the inner peripherial surface oi the casing forming the condensing zone v5S in a relatively thin nlm. lf for any reason there be a tendency for the vapor pressure within the drying chamber to increase above atmospheric pressure, the internal pressure acting on the curtain type check valve 63 moves it against the wall of the casing and prevents the escape of the vapor outwardly through the openings 62 into the interior of the cabinet il.

The lower end of the cooling or condensing zone is recessed as previously mentioned to provide the trap or sump t8 for collecting the condensing water, condensed vapor and lint, and this sump has a centrally located drain outlet which also provides the inlet to a centrifugal pump 57 mounted directly therebelow at the lowermost portion of the casing. The centrifugal pump may be rotated by the drive motor 3l through suitable belt mechanism Si? and the discharge end or the pump is connected to a conduit 69 leading to a suitable drain.

From the above description, clothes drier construction has been disclosed which will condense all of the vapor evaporated from the clothing during the drying operation and dispose of a major portion of the lint due to the natural tendency of the vapor-borne lint to travel with the vapor in the direction oi the coldest portion in the casing. However, due to the fact the condensing water is iiowing over a more or less restricted section or zone on the inner surface of the casing, a portion or area of the metallic casing adjacent the condensing zone 56 and over which no water is flowing will be cooled, due to the thermal conduction oi the metal, below the dew point of the vapor in the drying chamber I3, While the major portion of the vapor is attracted to the actual surface over which the water is owing,

a cold wall vapor. Since the accumulation of moisture in this surrounding area is not rapid enough to cause washing or self-cleaning of the same, the surface remains wet or damp and a portion of the lint contacts this area, settles thereat and tends to attach itself to the wall and remain xed. This results in a gradual accumulation of lint and after a period of time may result in malfunction of the drier. This action is just the opposite to what happens when the lint contacts the condensing surface proper whereat it is saturated with water and hushed to the drain 66.

Accordingly, it is the prime object of this invention to connue the condensation of vapor to the liquid cooled condensing area 5S and to either eliminate or reduce to a very minor problem the tendency for lint to collect in the area or zone immediately surrounding the same. To accomplish this, a pair of arcuate strips of material 'ii preferably of the thermal insulating type, such as, for example, laminated phenolic resin or the like are secured on the inner surface'or periphery of a portion of the cylindrical wall of the casing in parallel relation at either side of the condensing area 5t, in any suitable manner. These strips are relatively wide and extend inwardly from the front and back Walls 39 and di, respectively, and from adjacent the water distributing receptacle t@ to the sump 38 at the bottom of the condensing section 56. Since the strips have radial thickness and rest upon the inner periphery of the cylindrical portion of the casing, the oppositely disposed inner edges 'I3 of the strips provide a channel or boundary for the cooling water flowing over the cylindrical wall and denne its axial width. The inner exposed surface it of the insulating strips 'Il 'are disposed radially inwardly with respect to the condensing surface and the remainder of the cylindrical wall From the above it can be seen the cylindrical portion 3l of the casing l2 adjacent the condensing zone is cooled below the dew point of the vapor, the thermal insulating strips l! prevent vapor contact therewith and because the strips are relatively poor heat con ductors the exposed surfaces ld will tend to remain more nearly at the operating temperature of the rest of the chamber, Also, that a relatively sharp line of demarcation in temperature is provided at the sides of the condensing zone. arrangement of this type In order to obviate this condition, in the embodiment shown, a pair of oppositely disposed radially outwardly extending thin flexible wiper strips or members 'Il' whose anchored ends are securely fastened adjacent the outer periphery of the rotatable drum l! by any suitable clamping means, such as, for example, screws 78 acting through a bar it held against the cuter edge of one of the elevating vanes 2i. These thin strips are preferably formed from a plastic materiai having non-sticking or adhesion resistant characteristics such as, for example, a fabric impregnated or coated with polytetrafluoroethylene or the like, one form of which is sold under the trade name of Teiion The radial lengths of the wiping members 'il' are such that the outer free edges or ends 8d contact and brush across the entire exposed area or surface 'is of the thermal insulating strips 'il and their lengths are preferably slightly greater than the widths of the thermal insulating strips.

Thus, the drum I i is rotated the free ends 89 of the wiping members il are moved into ccntact with the thermal insulating strips l'l at the upper edge and are moved downwardly over the entire exposed area and any lint which may have fallen or settled on the strips the previous portion of the revolution will be pushed ahead of the members circumferentially along the surface until it reaches the bottom edge of the strips il, whereat the lint falls into the sump 38 and is conducted by the Water therein to the inlet SS of the centrifugal pump t?. Since the wiping members l? comprise a material which has non-sticking or adhesion resistant characteristics, the lint does not tend to adhere to and accumulate thereon also since the exposed surface M of the thermal insulating strips il are relatively highly polished, there is very little or no resistance to the scraper in moving the lint along its surface. In the operation of a clothes drier of the type disclosed, the operator opens the door @il and in serts the damp clothing to be dried into the rotatable drum through the aligned access openu ings, i2 and 2B, respectively, after which thedoor is closed and latched against the door gaskety that, although egeeorsf 5t to seal :the interior 'of the container vatrthis point.

ANext the operator adjustsor manipulatessutable control mechanism (notshown) to'initiate thedrying operation. This control mechanism acts to cause energization-of the heating'elements 53 to supply heat to the dryingicharnber i3 to evaporate the moisture in the clothing, start the drive motor 3! to rotate the drum H about its-horizontal axis at approximately 45 R. PMM. to tumble and agitate the clothes and rotatethe centrifugal liquid discharge pump .61, and-at the same time open the water' control valve 58 to'permit the flow of water through the-conduit -59 to deliver-the same intothe waterdistribution receptacle 6G at theupper-portion of the con- :lensing area E5. rEhe waterin the'receptacle 460 flows through the orifices-52 to provide a relatively wide and thin stream or sheet of water which passes from beneath the lower edge 65 of the check valve 63 and flows uniformly downwardly cve-r the condensing area {i5-longitudinally delined by the inner edges -13 of the Aarcuate thermal insulating strips 1l. As theecooling or condensing water reaches the bottomof the casing, it is collected in the vsump 378 .and is conducted'by gravity to its outlet openinfgt.provid1 ing the mlet to the centrifugal pump 61 and is discharged therefrom to drain throughthe drain conduit 59.

As .the heat builds up in thevcontainer I3, the moisture in the clothing being dried is evaporated therefrom. With the-drum .H being rotatedina counterclockwise direction, as viewed inFigure 1, the vapor is circulated around the inner periphery of the stationary container I3 andin so doing a portion of the vapor directly contacts the cold water flowing over thecondensingarea or zone 5&3 and is condensed. This condensation of the vapor develops aslightlyreduced pressure about the Zone and results in a flow of vaporin the direction-of the cold surface whereatV it is condensed. As the condensing water and condensate reachthe bottom of the chamberV it flows into the sump 38 and is discharged as previously mentioned.

As the vapor moves toward the condensing sec-- tion 5S of the drying chamber to be condensed, the iine air or vapor-borne lint will be car-riedby the vapor and it will likewise contact the cooling- L water and absorb enough moisture te lsettle thereon. Since a continuous supply-or Iiilm of water is owing over the condensing area, the lint will be washed or moved downwardly by the flowing water into the sump 3B and be discharged L to drain along with the water andcondensate. Likewise the heavier lint falling out of the drum on the condensing side ofthe chamber is washed to the trap along with the other lint, and the heavier lint falling from the opposite side'of the drum will tend to roll downwardly into the sump 38 for discharge also.

With the parallel arcuate thermal insulating strips 1i 'disposed at `the opposite end walls of the "casingand defining the condensing zone'51 therebetween, the tendency for the surrounding area about the condensing Zone proper to be cooled below the dew point of the vapor is vreduced considerably; therefore, a relatively sharp line of demarcation in temperature has been provided. In addition, `the vthermal insulating strips 1i are preferably dark in color to absorb a certain amount of radiantheat within the dryingichamber to further increase the temperature difference between'thefzonesthus,the'conden.J 75

tion of moisture yis inhibited and moisture does not havea tendency-to collect on the exposed upper flat surfaces 14. fSince a flat surface-of this type vwill collectlint to a degree under ad-V verse operating conditions, the flexible wiping members 11 formed fromadhesion resistant ma terial are moved across -thepolished or smooth surfaces -14 by the rotating drum H lto remove the lint=by pushing it downwardly and dropping it into the sump 38 -at the bottom of the container.

At'the end of the'drying operation when-the moisture in the Yclothing has been reduced to the desired value, or at the end of atimed interval, suitable control means-are .actuated to deenergize the heating element -53 and motor 3l and close the watercontrol valve 58 supplyingvthe condensing water. The operator need but open the door 68 andremovethe dried clothing from l'the drum H and the drier isthen readyfordrying the next batch of moist clothing.

tReferring howto vFigure 5, there is shown a slightly modified lint wiper` arrangement wherein the wiping members 8l .are mounted on an angle able supporting'bars 82 which-'may be carried between theopen outer ends of one of the elevat-V ing-.varies 21. The radial depths and the lengths of the wiping members are such that 4the ree ends contact and cover the entire width ofthe thermal strips 1l, andthey are mounted on an angle with respect to vthe 4same so that as they pass over the exposed surfaces 'lll of the strips they tend to move the lint inwardly toward the condensing area proper so that the flowing water in the channel will move the lint to drain.

With a drier construction of4 thetypedisclosed.

it is obvious the operator. is not required to remember Yto check and clean the lint trap, rela- 40- tively large quantities of moist heated air are not dischargedinto theambient-atmosphere and efflcient drying` is accomplished regardless of the humidity conditions of the ambient atmosphere.

From the foregoingit can be seen that a relatively simple drier construction has been provided u which-hasno linttrapfdoes not require thecirculation of .ambient air therethrough and wherein both the-heating and cooling or condensingoperations areconned .to denite areas within a single chamber whichalso houses the rotatable 'drum for agitating the clothing. Also, that a relatively simple and effective means has been provided to rdeiiner arelatively sharp condensing zone by using stripsof thermal insulating material on either side-of. the. zone and that means inthe formof wiping members having non-stieking or adhesion Vresistant characteristics are mounted on the drum tofkeep the exposed polished surface ofA theinsulating stripsfree from any lint which v may settle thereon.

While Ihave .herein described and upon the drawings-shownillustrative embodiments of the invention, it .is to'be understood that the `invention is not limited thereto but may comprehend- 1 otherconstructions, arrangements oi"parts,-dev tails and features withoutldeparting from the spiritof the invention.

It is'claimed:

1. In atumbler type' clothes drier, the combination cfa rotatable'drum for-tumbling clothing to'be dried, a substantially imperforate container surrounding lsaid -drum and dening a kdrying chamber therein,"means'for heatingv said chamber tofevaporatefthe moisture in said clothing,'means including a pairof stripsfsecuredto the interior of said container for defininga condensing, section therebetween, means for cooling' said conf.

densing section to condense the vapor generated;-

.y said heating. means within Said Casinamearis carried by Said drum ior wiping Said Strips t remove lint therefrom, and means for conducting the condensate and lint to drain,

2. In a tumbler type; clothes drier, the combi. nation of a horizontally rotatable drum for tuinblins clothing to b e dried about a horizontal axis, av substantially imperforate container haviilgv cooperating walls openly facing said drumV anddening a drying chamber therein, means for heating said chamber to evaporate the moisture inr said clothing, wallsl to provide a condensing portion to condense the vapor generated by said heating meanswithi-n said casing, said means including a liquid inlet for directing a stream of condensing water to now downwardly over the condensing portion oi' said wall, a pair of spaced strips secured to one of the walls of said container to limit said condensing portion to a definite area, and means for removing the condensing water and condensate to d-rain.

3. In a tumbler type clothes drier, the combi.- nation of a rotatable drum for tumbling clothing to bey dried, a substantially imperforate container having cooperating walls openly facing said drum and defining a drying chamber therein, means for heating said chamber to evaporate the mois. ture in said clothing, means including a liquid inlet in said container for conducting a lm of cooling water over the interior of a portion of the lower sector of one of said walls to provide a vapor condensing area for the generated vapor, a pair of spaced strips secured to the said lower sector of said one of said walls to define a channel opening toward said drum for said cool ing water, said strips providing an area of higher temperature than said condensing area to, restrict the condensation of vapor to the condensing area, and means for discharging said cooling Water and condensate to drain.

4. In a tumbler type clothes drier, the combinau tion of a rotatable drum for tumbling clothing to be dried, a substantially imperforate container surrounding said drum and denning a` drying chamber therein, means for heating said chamber to evaporate the moisture in said clothing, means for conducting a nlm of cooling water over the inner wall of a portion of the lower sector of said container to provide a vapor condensing zone for the generated vapor, a pair of spaced strips secured to the inner wall of said container to define a channel for said cooling water, said strips providing an area of higher temperature than said condensing zone to restrict the condensation of vapor to the condensing zone, means including a discharge opening for discharging the cooling water and condensate to drain, and means car ried by said drum for contacting said strips to remove the lint therefrom and deposit the same adjacent the discharge opening in said casing.

5. A drier for damp clothing, comprising a horizontally rotatable drum for tumbling the clothing to be dried, a substantially imperforate container having cooperating walls for encompassing said drum and denning a drying chamber therein, means for heating said chamber to evaporate the moisture in the clothing, means for supplying cooling liquid to the interior of said casing to flow over a section thereof in a thin film to condense the vapor generated therein and to collect the lint thereat, spaced thermal insulating means for cooling a portion of said members secured within said casing to dene av channel, for 'the liisiuidi and a condensing area therebetween, said members confining said `cooling liquid, in said condensing area to a denite area, wiping. means carried5 by said` druml for contacting the said, thermal insulating members to clean the same ofli-nt and deposit the lint at the bottom` of the.l casing, and meansv for discharging the cooling liquid, condensate` andv lintl to drain.

5.V A drier-for damp clothing, comprising a sub.-y Staiitiallr imperiolate, Casing defining a drying chamber and provided with anaccess opening; therein anda lowersection, a closure for said ac.-A cess opening, al tumbler in said chamber for agitatine the cloibiiiameans for heating Said Cham-- bei to. evaporate t e moisture in the Clothi means fonsupplyingcondensing Water to the in.-A terior of saidl casing to flowv over a portion oi, the lower section a am om. to. condense ma vapor generated therein. to collect the lint there-` Spaeed thermal insulatingY members, Secured-1 within said casing at said lower` section to define a channel for the condensing water which conV f stitutes a condensing area therebetween, said members `coniining the influence of said conde ing water tothe condensing area, wiping meanscarra-ied by said drum for contacting said thermal insulating.l strips to clean the same of lint and to deposit the lint at the bottom of the casing, and means for discharging the cooling water, con-. densate and lint to drain.

7. il; drier for damp clothing, comprising a mounted t0 agitata the Clothing, a substantially imperiorate casing havingy a longitudinal wall with a generally cylindrical lower portion and cooperating end walls openly facing said drum to define aV drying chamber therein, one of said Walls hav-ine an aess Oser-ina a Closure isi said assessV opening. means f0.1` heating Said @bagnetto-evaporate the moisture in Said @10thing, means including a liquid inlet for supplying condensing water to the interior of said chamber to ow the same over a portion of said lower cylindrical portion in a thin lm to condense the evaporated moisture by direct contact with the water, a pair of longitudinally spaced inwardly projecting arcuate shaped thermal insulating strips secured to said cylindrical portion adjacent said end walls to denne an open channel facing said drum over which the cooling water flows and to limit the condensing action thereto, and means for conducting the cooling water and condensate owing to the bottom of said casing to drain.

8. A drier for damp clothing, comprising a drum mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis to agitate the clothing, a casing having a longitudinal wall with a generally cylindrical lower section and end walls surrounding said tumbler and defining a substantially imperorate drying chamber, one of said end walls having an access opening therein, a closure for said access opening, means for heating said chamber to evaporate the moisture in said clothing, means for supplying condensing water to the interior of said chamber and owing the same over a portion of the lower cylindrical wall section in a thin nlm to condense the evaporated moisture by direct contact with the water, a pair of arcuate shaped thermal insulating strips secured to said cylindrical surface adjacent said wall section to dene a channel for the condensing water and to limit the condensing action thereto, means for conducting the condensing water and condensate owing to the bottom of said casing to drain, and wiping members carried adjacent the outer periphery of said rotating drum for contacting said thermal insulating strips to remove the lint therefrom and deposit the same adjacent the bottom of the casing to be discharged with the condensing water and condensate.

9. A drier for damp clothing, comprising a drum mounted to rotate about a generally horizontal axis to agitate the clothing, a substantially imperforate casing having a longitudinal wall whose lower sector is cylindrical in transverse cross-section and end walls for surrounding said drum to denne a drying chamber, one of said end walls having an access opening therein, a closure for said access opening, means for heating said chamber to evaporate the moisture in said clothing, means for supplying condensing water to said casing, means for admitting the condensing water into at a level approximating the axis of said drum so that it flows to the bottom thereof over a portion of the cylindrical sector of said longitudinal Wall in a relatively thin lm to provide a condensing area for the evaporated vapor, a sump formed in the bottom of the casing for collecting the condensing water, a pair of spaced parallel arcuate strips of thermal insulating material secured on the inner surface of said cylindrical sector extending from the opposite end walls and whose opposed inner edges denne a channel for the condensing water and the limits of said condensing area, said thermal insulating strips having a smooth inner exposed surface of dark material for absorbing radiant heat from the drying chamber to provide a relatively sharp temperature gradient between the surface of said strips and the temperature of said condensing area to restrict condensation of vapor to the condensing area, radially outwardly projecting thin and flexible wipingmembers formed from adhesion rethe interior of said casing f sistant material carried by said drum and rotatable therewith, said members contacting the smooth exposed area of said thermal insulating strips to remove lint deposited thereon and to deposit the same in said sump, and means including a pump carried on the bottom of the casing for discharging the condensing water, condensate and collected lint to drain.

l0. A drier for damp clothing, comprising a horizontally rotatable drum for tumbling the clothing to be dried, a substantially imperforate container having a longitudinally extending wall with a cylindrical lower portion and cooperating end walls for encompassing said drum and dening a drying chamber therein, means for heating said chamber to evaporate the moisture in the clothing, means for flowing a thin nlm of condensing water over a sector of the cylindrical portion of said longitudinally extending wall to provide a condensing zone for the vapor and to collect and dispose oi the lint, a pair of arcuate and parallel strips carried by said cylindrical wall and disposed on opposite sides of said condensing zone to restrict the inuence of said condensing water, flexible members having poor lint retaining characteristics carried adjacent the outer periphery of said drum for contacting said strips to remove lint therefrom and to deposit the same at the bottom of said container, and means for conducting the condensing water, condensate and lint to drain.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 586,766 Haslam July 20, 1897 1,948,357 Newkirk Feb. 20, 1934 1,996,253 Otis Apr. 2, 1935 2,451,692 Pugh Oct. 19, 1948 2,495,535 Morrison Jan. 24, 195() 2,644,245 Hammell et al July 7, 1953

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