US2827783A - Drying apparatus and drying attachment for clothes washing machine and the like - Google Patents

Description

Y E L D N A H E 2,827,783 AND DRYING ATTACHMENT FOR CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE AND HE LIKE 'Filed Jan. 6; 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet. l

EHANDLEY FMHULII March 25, 1958 H. E. HANDLEY 2,827,783 DRYING APPARATUS AND DRYING ATTACHMENT FOR CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 6, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 STAT l c. V LVE.

FMRUIUEHANDLEY FIEFZI- I mfpm v A'F-r RNEYS March 25, 1958 H. E. HANDLEY 2,327,783

DRYING APPARATUS AND DRYING ATTACHMENT FOR CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 6, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet :5

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7O RMQ CoupLg m- WATER 9RAlT2/6PlNNEQ L:l pg 1 I 5 l'lmerz film- FIE EL HA R'II/LJII ENAMEL/5v ATTORNEY March 25, 1958 H E. HANDL Y 2,827,783

E DRYING APPARATUS AND DRYING ATTACHMENT FOR CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 6, 1949 HAF'ULDEHANDLEY ATTQRNEYS MarchZS, 1958 DRYING APPARATUS AND DRYING ATTACHMENT FOR' cLoTHEs WASHING MACHINE AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 6, 1949 H. E. HANDLEY 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Pater nice 2,827,783 Patented Mar. 25, 1 958 DRiZlNG APPARATUS AND DRYING ATTACH- REN'I' FGR CLOTHES WASHING MACE- WE AND TEE LIKE Harold E. Handley, Jackson, Mich. Application January 6, 1949, Serial No. 69,446

Claims. (Cl. 6S12) The present invention relates to improvements in drying apparatus, being particularly concerned with apparatus especially adapted to the drying of clothes and similar material while being tumbled or otherwise agitated in domestic clothes washing machines. It is to be understood, however, that the principles of combination, construction and arrangement herein disclosed and defined are not limited in their application to clothes drying and similar material as the objects and advantages of the invention are considered to have a much broader application and scope.

in recent years clothes driers for domestic use have made their appearance upon the market as a companion unit to automatic and semi-automatic clothes washing machines. Upon completion of the washing operation and the water extraction step, the damp clothes are placed the drier where they are agitated in the presence of circulated heated air. While these driers perform satisfactorily, they are relatively expensive, and generally require even more floor space than the washing machine.

it has been proposed, heretofore, as disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,328,256 to associate a hot air blower with a domestic washer to at least partially dry the clothes within the cylinder of the washing machine upon the completion of the washing operation. The present disclosure, however, is considered an improvement over the apparatus disclosed in the aforesaid patent.

Thus one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a clothes drier or the like which in connection with its function as a heater and circulator of air is designed to utilize the clothes receptacle and agitating mechanism of the domestic washing machine. This object may be carried out by combining the drier and clothes washer into a single unit, or it may be economically accompiished through an attachment unit. When the principles of the present invention are embodied in an attachment or accessory unit for the washing machine, it becomes possible for present and future owners of washing machines to convert the same into clothes driers at a minimum expense.

Another object is to provide an improved drier attachment for domestic washing machines and other similar apparatus in which materials are agitated, spun, tumbled and the like for washing, cleansing and liquid extraction purposes, and which require drying as a subsequent step.

Another object is to provide an improved drier attach ment for machines of the type disclosed in the preceding paragraph in which the existing openings into the interior of the machine are utilized in the coupling of the attachment to the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dry ing attachment for material agitating machines of the type described in which air heating and circulating means are associated into an interrupted duct system in which the machine, to which the drier is to be attached, is coupled to complete the duct system; i

A further object is to provide, as a new article of manufacture, a drier unit for domestic clothes washers comprising air inlet and air exhaust ducts which may be selctively coupled to one or more openings in the washer for circulating air through the clothes to dry the same following the washing cycle and/ or the preliminary liquid extraction step.

A still further object is to provide a clothes drier in which improved safety controls are embodied to safeguard its operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a clothes drier in which overheating is avoided under all conditions of faulty operation or installation.

More specifically, another and further object of the invention is to provide an improved automatic clothes drier in which the rotating cylinder of a conventional automatic or semi-automatic washing machine is used as a drying chamber, whereby the clothes may be washed by the same machine without removal until the drying operation is completed, with adequate provision being made for lint control.

Another and specific object is to provide an improved safety control for driers and the like in which the input of heated air is under the control of predetermined subatmospheric conditions within the air circulating system.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved portable drying attachment for domestic washing machines and the like in the form of a separable, and selectively attachable unit.

A still further object is to provide a unit of the type described in the preceding paragraph which is adapted to utilize gas, electric, radiant heat, hot air and combinaproved attachment for the drying of clothes in domestic washing machines of the cylinder type which is accomplished without alteration of the machine.

These and other objects and advantages residing in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts will more fully appear from a consideration of the detailed description to follow and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. I is a perspective view of an automatic domestic washing machine of the cylinder type with one form of improved drier attachment shown associated therewith but with the ducts detached and in storage,

Fig. ii is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the auxiliary door in place and the ducts of the drier attachment coupled to the clothes door and detergent opening,

Fig. 111 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the drier attachment shown in Figs. I and II particularly illustrating the combustion chamber and the lint collector,

Fig. IV is a fragmentary plan view partly, shown in broken section, or" the drying and washing apparatus shown in Fig. I,

Fig. V is a fragmentary vertical section of Fig. 11

taken through the washer and drier attachment on the center line of the detergent opening of the washer,

Fig. V1 is a perspective view of the auxiliary door washer, and

. 3 V adaptation of electric heat in lieu of gas or other combustible fuel, e

, Fig. IX is a diagrammatic illustration similar to Fig.

mechanism-of the all-electric unitjillu'strated in'Fig. VIII, Fig. X is a view similar to Fig.*I of the modified form of the invention in which the drier structure has been embodied into 'the cabinet structure of the washing ac in e Fig. X1 is a @diagrammatic illustration of a' portable drier attachment for domestic washing machines and the like selectively coupled to a horizontal cylinder type of machine, l a V 'Fig. XII is a diagrammatic illustration'similar to Fig. XI showing aportable drying attachment associated and coupled with the door of an inclined cylinder type. of

Fig-XIII is a detailed view of a vacuumcontrol. Referringto the form of Figs. I'to VII of the drawings whereinthe principles of the present invention are illus- VII and illustrates the heating, air circulating and control trated in numerous embodiments, in Fig. I the dryer attachment 10 is shown disposed adjacent to onev side of the'cabinet '12 of an automatic domestic washing machine ofJthe'horizontal'cylinder type comprising a control panel 14; a door 16 through which the clothes are inserted'and; a detergent supply opening 18.

The-dryer attachment 1 0 comprises a hinged top .29, which in closedposition, as shown inFig. I, covers the lint filter generally designated by'reference character 22 and the airoutlet duct connection 24. At the front of the attachment 10 is a vertically hinged door 26 which in its closed position covers the control'mechanism 27 and the air inlet duct connection 28. When the drying attach- V ment10is uncoupled from the washing machine cabinet 12, theair inlet duct 30 is'stored in the compartment 32 and the air outlet-duct 34 and the auxiliary door 36 are stored below inchamber 38. 7 r p.

' In Fig; II the lid 20 and the door 26 are shown hinged I out of the position shownin Fig. I with the inlet duct 30.

extendingbetweenthe duct connection 28 and the duct connection 39 providedin the auxiliary door or closure. 36. "Thedu'ct 34 is positioned at one end within the duct 7 connection. 24 and at. the opposite end 40is shown pro- 7 vided with a conical neck 42 toenable the same to be seated withinthe detergent supply opening 18, as more clearly shown in'Fig. V.

As shown in FigfVI, theauxiliary door 36, in addition 'through which the clothes may be inserted and removed 7 from theinterior of the perforated'cylinder 46. During I the drying operation the hinged door 48 covers theopen-I 7 .ing 44,.beingvheld closed by the latch 49.

I0 position the, auxiliary door 36, the regular door 16 air will circulate through the door 16 in the machine 12,

through the agitated clothes and the perforated cylinder 46 to be exhausted through the detergent opening 18 by means of the duct 34. However, the advisability of shortening the drying cycle and in view of the fact that atmospheric conditions are not usually ideal for drying purposes, with the auxiliary 'door 36 and duct 30 installed as shown in Fig. II, the products of combustion from the gas burner 68 are drawn; from the combustion chamber 37 through the duct connection 28 into the duct 30 and hence directed into the interior of the cylinder 46 through the duct connection 39. 7

'It will be readily appreciated that the air exhausting action of the fan will tend to collect'all lint from the clothes upon the screen 66. This arrangement is a distinct advantage over that shown in the aforesaid'patent wherein there is no provisionfor lint controlor collection.

As it is necessary to supply a relatively'large amount of heat in order to effectively dry the normal batch of clothes which may be handled at'one'time in a domestic washing.

cooled jacket 70 and the hot air inlet duct 30 is shownprovided with a suitable air cooled jacket 72 with the openings 73 and 75 providing a circulation of air through the jacket 72. To prevent operation of the drying attachment in the event the ducts 30 and 34 are improperly positioned, the duct 30 is provided with an actuator 74 (Fig. IV) which, with the duct 30 in proper position, will operate the electrical circuit control member 76, while the duct 34 is provided with a corresponding actuator 78 (Fig. III) for operating the electrical circuit 35 a control member 80 with the duct 34 properly positioned.

To describe the safety controls for the gas heating embodiment: gas is brought into the attachment '10 by the pipe 82 and delivered to the gas'bur-ner-68 and the pilot burner 84 through a safety shut-on valve 86 and thermostatic valve '88. The valve 86 may be a combination manual shut-off and automatic shut-elf which will j 7 provide safe lighting of the pilot burner 84 and will cut ofi the gas supply in the event the pilot. flame fails and the thermocouple 90 which supplies the electrical energy to theduct connection 39, is provided with an opening 44 5 holding the valve 86 open-is no longer activated. trol member 92having an actuator 94. Aligned holesj 96 and 98 permit the hot products of combustion from the chamber 37 to impinge against the member- 92 under" condition of improper draft through the inlet duct 30.

Mounted on the jacket 70 is a bi-metallic circuit con- Under normal draft'conditiona'cool .airfiowing from a the ambient atmosphere as indicated by thearrows of "Figrlll protects the member 92; from becoming'overi- 16 hinges are employed to support the auxiliary 'door 36 to position through the hinge members 52 and 54.

m the illustrated form of Figs. 1 and III, the moisture laden-air is directed out through the grille 56. from the exhaust 5 8 ofthe fan 60 driven by the electricmotor 62.

'The intake of the fan 69 isbonnected withan opening 64 inthe lint filter 22 which is provided with a' removable screen 66 of suitable construction for gathering the lint 'from the clothes'up'on its outer surface and to prevent 34 into the lint filter 22. Under certain atmosphericconditions, where the length of the drying cycle is not too essential, following the washing cycle, with only the duct 34 connected and the door 16 open .(installation of the auxiliary door 36 and the'duct 3t) being'omitted'), ambient heated; Should the fan 60'fail to operate, or the lint filter require cleaning 'or anyother part of the air circulating system function improperly, heat from the com- .bustion chamber'37 willcause the bi-metallic member. 7

92 to expand raising the actuator 94 to open a switch 100 in the control circuit 102 of the thermostatic mag netically operativemain burner valve 88-t-o shut ofi the 7 gas supply to the burner. 68. V V To safeguard against'faulty operation'of the valve 88,

should the'ga's' supply continue to' flow to the burner 68 with the circuit opened bythe switch 100, the actuator 94.is alsofemployedto open the circuit 106 in which a the thermocouple 90 is located to de-energize the valve 86 to shut oif the gas supply to both the burners68 and 84. In. this manner, double protection is provided al: though it does require the relighting of the pilot burner after the fault in the circulating system is corrected. It alsopreventsthe on and off cycling of the gas burner 68' which might otherwise take place'if the member 92 was controlling only'the valve 88; Q 1

In Fig. X the principles of the invention illustrated inthe form' of Figs; Ito1VII1inclusive have been eni bodied to a dual purpose laundry unit for washing and drying comprising a cabinet 140 having the grille 142 through which the motor 144 operating the exhaust fan 146 is discharging moisture laden air during the time the unit is being used as a dryer. The intake of the fan 146 connects with the lint filter 148 which is connected to the interior of the washing and drying cylinder by the duct 150. The inlet duct 1S2 connects the combustion chamber 154 with the interior of the cylinder located within the washing and drying receptacle 156 at a point directly above the main door opening158. With this arrangement it will be noted that the ducts 150 and 152 are located within the side walls of the cabinet 140. The operation of the combination washing and drying unit shown in Fig. X corresponds to that of the embodiment shown in Figs. I to VII inclusive.

In Fig. XI, another form ofrthe invention is diagrammatically illustrated wherein the drying attachment unit 160 is shown supported upon a suitable carriage 162. The inlet duct 164 and the exhaust duct 166 have terminal portions 168 and 170 which are constructed and arranged to be brought into register with the door opening 172 of the horizontal cylinder type domestic washing machine cabinet 174. A rather course grille 176 is indicated at the discharge end of the duct 164 whereas a relatively fine grille 173 capable of filtering the lint from the clothes is provided at the intake end 170 of the exhaust duct 166. A gasket 18%} or other suitable sealing means may be employed at the point of abutment between the unit 160 and the cabinet 174. A suitable air exhausting means is indicated at 182. The drying of clothes and other material within the cylinder 184 may be entirely carried out through the circulation of air from the ambient atmosphere or a suitable source of heat, as for example, a gas burner 186, may be provided in association with the air intake duct 164.

Referring to Fig. XII the dryer attachment 160 is shown angularly disposed upon the carriage 162 in order to accommodate itself to the domestic washing cabinet 174' diagrammatically illustrated as being of the inclined cylinder type of construction in which the opening into theinterior of the cabinet 174' is through the inclined wall 188.

In lieu of the bi-metal control 92 for closing the gas valve 38 under abnormal pressure conditions in the combustion chamber 37, a diaphragm switch actuator 368, of Fig. XIII, connected with the air inlet duct or combustion chamber through a tube 370 may be employed to rock the mercury switch 372 to break the circuit to the solenoid holding the valve 88 open; the switch 372 being rocked about the pivot 374 by the rod 376 connected to the diaphragm in any Well-known manner.

in order to readily adapt tr e drying attachment shown in Figs. 1 to VII inclusive, to automatic washing ma chines now on the market or to permit its manufacture and sale as a companion unit without any modification of the cylinder or other types of agitator or without alterations in the timer mechanism, the controls of the drying attachment should be independent of the controls of the washing machine. To this end, the controls for the unit 15 of Fig. I are entirely independent of the controls for the washing machine 12. At the time of installation of the unit it is only necessary to electrically connect the control circuit of the drying unit to the agitator motor of the washing machine. If the control circuit of the washing machine is such that such a connection would feed back through the timer mechanism to cause the washing cycle to be actuated, it will also become necessary to open the circuit to the timer mechanism.

In the installation and operation of the drying unit 10 of Fig. I as more completely disclosed in Fig. VII, the motor 114 for the cylinder of the washing machine is selectively connected to either the washing machine circuit 116 or the drier circuit 112 through a suitable two pole double throw switch 118. Thetimer mechanism 116 or the washing machine is diagrammatically shown controlling the water inlet valve mechanism 119, the drain mechanism 120, and the spinning clutch mechanism 121, all in a manner well-known in the art and forming no part of the present invention. To avoid feed back through the timer mechanism 116, where the timer motor is in series with the cylinder motor 114, at the time the switch 118 is thrown into position of Fig. VII, the circuit 122 is opened as shown. The motor 114is now under thecontrol of the circuit 123 in which the starting button 131 and regulating dial 124 are provided as part of the control circuit which includes the thermostat 108 in the lint filter box 22.

The thermostat 108 and its associated controls are preferably of a type and construction which will de-energize the circuit 102 to close the main burner valve 88 when the temperature in the filter box 22 rises to a predetermined level determined by the regulation of the dial 7 124 and depending upon the degree of drying desired, as for example, 150 F. With the main burner valve 88 closed, the design of the thermostat 108 and its associated control is such that the circuit 123 in which the cylinder motor 114 and fan motor 62 are located will continue to operate to agitate the clothes while being aerated by unheated air until the temperature in the lint filter box 22 drops to a predetermined lower temperature, as for example, F. at which time the circuit 123 is opened to conclude the drying cycle.

To start the drying cycle, the button 126 is manually depressed to permit gas to flow through the valve 86 to the pilot burner 84. The burner 84 is then lighted and the button 126 held depressed until the thenno couple is sufliciently activated to hold the valve 86 open at which time the button may be released. The dial 124 is then turned to the desired drying adjustment and the starting button 131 actuated which energizes the circuit 162 to open the main burner valve 88 to the burner 68 (provided the ducts 30 and 34 are properly positioned to close the circuit at 76 and 31?).

The substitution of an electrical heater for the gas burner 68 is shown in Fig. IX in which the elements common to Fig. VII are indicated with corresponding primed reference characters. To provide 220 volts for the resistance heater 127 the circuit is provided and controlled by the relay 129 under the joint control of the circuit 131) which may be die-energized by the bi-metal control 92, the thermostat 108' or the improper positioning of the ducts 30 and 34 leaving one or both of the circuit closers 76' and 3G in open position.

It will be understood that the numerous embodiments shown are by way of illustration only of the principles of the invention. Accordingly, I do not wish to be limited to the exact arrangements shown but to the contrary wish to claim as my invention all embodiments of the invention coming within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. in combination with a domestic clothes washer having a front door opening through which the clothes are inserted and a top opening through which the detergent is discharged into the interior of the clothes washing machine, a portable self-contained dryer unit located to one side of said washer, air heating and circulating means in said unit, an air duct connection in the front of said unit, a removable, generally U-shaped, air inlet duct structure including a closure for said front door opening, said air inlet duct structure being removably attached between said air duct connection and said front door opening across the front of said washer and unit, a second air duct connection located in the top of said unit, a removable, general- 1y U-shaped air exhaust duct structure having one termi nal end shaped to connect to said detergent opening and the other terminal end to connect to said second air duct connection, a storage space defined in said unit below said first air duct connection and said heating and air circulating means to receive said removable air duct structureswhen notin use, and an adjustable closure at the front of said unit for the'terminalfi of said first air duct connection and for one end of said storage space.

,2. A portable self-contained drying attachment for domestic washing machines comprising air circulating means, means for heating the washed material, duct structure for circulating air within the interior of the Washing machine, and terminal connections on said duct structure for temporarily coupling said duct structure to the drying attachment and with/the interior of the Washing machine through association with one or more'openings into the interior of the washing machine.

3. In combination with a domestic clothes washer havtraction and aeration, a timer mechanism, timer coning an opening through which the clothes. are inserted and an opening 'th-rough'which the detergent is discharged *into'the interior Otf the clothes washing machine, a .dry-

ing attachment having air circulating means, and duct structure'm'eans associated with said air circulating means and coupled to said openings for circulating air between said clothes and detergent openings through the interior of the washing machine to aerate and dry the clothes.

4. In 'the combination of claim 1 wherein said closure 8 7 for said front door opening has defined therein an opening for the insertion of clothes, adjustahle means for closing said last opening, and, a duct'connection in juxtaposition with reference thereto.

, 5. A portable self-contained drying attachment for clothes washing machines comprising air heating means, air circulating means including duct structure having removable terminal connections to be coupled to the drying attachment and with openings defined in the washing machine and communicating with the interior of the washing machine whereby said duet structure when con nected is'adapted to circulate air through the interior of the washing machine, control means actuated by said duct structure when properly'positiorned with respect to the.

openings in the machine and regulating means for said heating means subordinate to the actuation of said control means by the positioning of said duot'structure.

,6. In air heating and circulating apparatus, duct structure, a source of heat, heat responsive means for controlling said heat source, air circulating means associated with said structure for reducing the atmospheric pressure within said duct structure, an air inlet into said duct structure g adjacent to which said heat responsive means is located to cool said heat responsive means with ambient air flowing through said air inlet, and an opening defined in said ductadjacent said heat responsive means to subjectv said 5 means to the heat of said source in the absence of predeiy termined sub-atmospheric pressures in said duct structure.

7; In a dryer apparatus, a receptacle, inlet and exhaust ducts'tructure connecting the drying apparatus with the interior of said receptacle, means for circulating 'air through said ducts and the interior of said receptacle, 2.

air, heat responsive means for regulating said heating means, and means independent of said timer :and in'com- 7 source of heat, means controlling said source, said last means including means responsive to predetermined conditions of air circulation in said ducts to reduce said heat. upon reduction in circulation, and means responsive" to predetermined temperature COHdlliO'IlSiII said exhaust duct for regulatingsaid' air circulation and heat source e 8. An automatic clotheswashing and drying apparatus 'comprisinga common agitating member in which the clothes are washed, rinsed and dried by mechanical extrolled means for carrying out the washing, rinsing and the mechanical water extraction steps including driving means for said agitating member, means for circulating ambient air thru said agitating member, control means for said last means and'saiddriving means independent;

. of said timer mechanism, means for raising thetemperature Otf said clothes while being iaerated, and heat responsive control means for regulatingsaid temperature 'raising means."

9. In a dryer apparatus, a gas burner, 'a pilot 7 burner, a gas supply, a main burner valve located between said main gas burner and said supply, an electrical circuit holding said main valve open, a pilot burner shut off valve between said main burner valve and said supply, a'thermo; couple circuit actuated by said pilot burner for holding said pilot burner valve open whereby either one of said valves is capable of shuttingoff the flow of gas from said supply to said main gas burner, and a heat responsive element including means for opening said circuits to release both of said valves to automatic closing movement to assure interruption of gas flow for said supply-to said main burner. 7 y

10. In combinationwith an 'automatic clothes'washer having an agitator'into which theclothes are placed for the normal automatic cycle ofwashing rinsing and" mechanical extraction anda timer for controlling said;

cycle, of a dryer attachment for adding the step ofaera 7 ,tion within said agitator comprising air ducts coupledto thedryer attachment and to the interior of said agitator, means for circulating ambient air through said ducts and the interior of said agitator, means for heating said bination with said air circulating means'for actuating said agitator. V

' References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Barrett Oct. 6', 1931 Bradley Fea 1950

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