Abstract: A commercial laundry dryer with a perforated drum for the laundry mounted in a housing to rotate on a horizontal axis and the drum is of the full width and length of the housing to maximize the load size for the floor space occupied by the housing. The fuel-fired burner is mounted below the drum and faces upward with a deflector preventing the flame from contacting the drum. The fan for circulating the drying air is mounted above the drum as are dampers for selectively causing the drying air to be recirculated to the burner and drum or exhausted after a single pass and a lint collecting and discharging arrangement. The drying air is introduced into the bottom of the drum at the center, passes upwardly through the laundry load and out through the top of the drum near the axial ends.

Abstract: To dry wet fabrics, a hot drying gas is introduced into a drying chamber containing the fabrics. The drying chamber is maintained at a sufficiently high pressure greater than atmospheric pressure so that a portion of the gas in the drying chamber can be discharged directly to the atmosphere. The remainder of the gas in the drying chamber is withdrawn, and at least a portion of the withdrawn gas is used to produce the hot drying gas introduced into the drying chamber. This is effected by increasing the pressure of the withdrawn gas, heating the withdrawn gas, and combining it with a dilution gas. The amount of the dilution gas which is combined with the withdrawn gas comprises from about 5 to about 20% by volume of the hot drying gas introduced into the drying chamber. Before the withdrawn gas is heated, preferably it is filtered by a lint screen for removal of lint and other contaminants. Novel lint screens capable of self-cleaning during a cooling mode of operation are described.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a geyseric burner assembly for selectively and efficiently burning either oil or a gaseous fuel therein and discharging the combustion flow in an axial direction. The burner assembly includes a plurality of concentric shells defining an outer housing, a plenum which communicates with a forced air supply and an air passageway which delivers air for combustion from the plenum along the interior shells where the air is preheated to a toroidally shaped mixing ring which is disposed on an inclined floor about a gas pilot nozzle. Oil or gaseous fuel is selectively introduced to the burner toward the mixing ring where it mixes in a rolling or turbulent geyseric motion with the inflowing air resulting in instantaneous ignition and combustion.

Abstract: An apparatus and method utilizing an oscillating drum through which is passed a continuous web of textile fabric moved axially through the drum by synchronized drive means; the drum including confronting grid structures having angularly arranged portions which serve to prevent tangling the web as the web is moved forward and the drum oscillates. Hot air is introduced adjacent the entrance end and exit end of the drum and into the drum itself to maintain the web in suspension; and, optionally, live steam may be directed against the web before entering the drum.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of textile drying and finishing wherein a portion of the discharge air from the dryer containing moisture is recirculated directly into the combustion zone of a burner wherein it is blended with fresh air then returned to the dryer.

Abstract: A lint disposal apparatus wherein lint or other combustible particulate matter entrained in a column of air moving in a duct is held by opposing forces contiguous to the radially outer surface of a rotating screen against which a flame is directed to cause the particulate matter to be ignited as it passes through the flame.