Vapor Exhaust Patents (Class 34/140)
  • Patent number: 11788761
    Abstract: An HVAC system includes an evaporator coil disposed between a supply air duct and a return air duct. A re-circulation duct fluidly couples the supply air duct and the return air duct. A damper is disposed in the re-circulation duct and is moveable between an open position and a closed position. A controller is operatively coupled to a variable-speed compressor, a variable-speed circulation fan, and the damper. Responsive to a determination that the variable-speed circulation fan is operating at the minimum speed and the suction pressure is above the pre-determined threshold, the controller signals the damper to move to the open position. Responsive to a determination that the variable-speed circulation fan is not operating at the minimum speed or the suction pressure is below the pre-determined threshold, the controller signals the damper to move to the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Rakesh Goel, Eric Perez
  • Patent number: 10590588
    Abstract: A laundry apparatus includes a drum rotatable on a shaft and including at least one predetermined region made of metal; a tub surrounding the drum; an inductor provided on the tub and heating the drum by generating an electromagnetic field; and an air passage duct including a first duct provided as a passage for exhausting air outside the tub, a second duct provided as a passage for sucking air into the tub, and a fan for generating air flow, wherein the air drawn into the tub via the second duct is supplied to an internal space of the drum via a penetrating hole provided in a circumferential surface of the drum by the fan and then exhausted to the first duct after passing through a drum opening provided in a front portion of the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Woore Kim, Hyunwoo Noh, Sangwook Hong
  • Patent number: 9976570
    Abstract: This blower apparatus includes an air blowing portion, a motor portion, and a housing. The housing includes an air inlet and an air outlet. At least one of the flat plates includes an air hole. Once the air blowing portion starts rotating, an air flow traveling radially outward is generated between the flat plates by viscous drag of surfaces of the flat plates and a centrifugal force. Since the air flow is generated between the flat plates, the air flow does not easily leak upwardly or downwardly, and thus, an improvement in air blowing efficiency is achieved. Since the air hole is defined in the flat plate(s), gas can be easily supplied to the axial gap, resulting in improved air blowing efficiency. In addition, with each spacer being arranged between the flat plates, the axial gap can be adjusted to have a desired axial dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuko Hino, Seung-Sin Yoo, Tomoyuki Tsukamoto, Akihiko Makita
  • Patent number: 8966783
    Abstract: Provided are a novel vacuum-pressure spray-drying method and a novel vacuum-pressure spray-drying apparatus suitable for drying and powdering a liquid raw material containing a substance susceptible to heat denaturation, such as a food raw material and a medicine raw material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Tanabe Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaka Kitamura, Kazuhiko Yamazaki, Yoshitsugu Yamano
  • Patent number: 8966780
    Abstract: A tumble dryer includes a housing, which has an enclosable drying chamber, a heater mounted in the enclosable drying chamber, a gate for closing/opening the enclosable drying chamber and a tumbler rotatably mounted in the drying chamber, an intake pipeline equipped with an intake control valve for guiding outside air into the drying chamber, an exhaust pipeline equipped with an exhaust control valve for guiding air out of the drying chamber to the atmosphere, an air-suction pipeline equipped with a pipeline control valve and having a pump installed therein for pumping air out of the drying chamber to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Inventor: Hui-Li Lin
  • Patent number: 8955232
    Abstract: While a dryer is running, continuously automatically monitor operation of a dryer venting system, and continuously automatically determining if the dryer venting system is operating improperly, and if it is determined that the dryer venting system is operating improperly then automatically disabling the dryer. If the dryer starts running then automatically turning on a booster fan. Operation of booster fan is monitored by sensing the current drawn. Monitoring operation of the venting system through a first controller and automatically disabling the dryer through a second controller. Automatically turn off the booster fan if the dryer is not running. Automatically adjust operating parameters of the dryer venting system in an attempt to operate the venting system properly, and disabling the dryer if the venting system continues to operate improperly after adjustment. Check to determine if the dryer is drawing current to indicate the dryer is running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Cube Investments Limited
    Inventor: J. Vern Cunningham
  • Patent number: 8689463
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing lint from air that is discharged from a clothes dryer uses a lint filtration housing mounted on the frame of the clothes dryer, the filtration housing having an interior that contains a filter for removing lint from the dryer exhaust air flow stream. The housing provides an influent fitting for transmitting heating exhaust air from the drying chamber to the housing interior. An ambient air supply enables ambient air to be added to the filtration housing interior. One or more vanes is provided that create an annular vortex within the filtration housing interior. The flow of the annular vortex within the filtration housing interior can be between about 500 and 3,000 cubic feet per second. A flow line transmits pre-heated air from the filtration housing interior to the dryer interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Pellerin Milnor Corporation
    Inventor: Russell Poy
  • Publication number: 20130340277
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a laundry treating apparatus that smoothly agitates laundry with as large space as possible for receiving laundry. The laundry treating apparatus includes: a rotatable drum that receives laundry, has open front and rear, and is formed to have a non-circular closed cross-section; a front panel closing the open front of the drum and having a plurality of discharge holes through which air in the drum is discharged; and a suction duct coupled to the front panel and sucks air discharged through the discharge holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventors: Youngjoo Lee, Jongseok Kim, Daeyun Park, Sungmin Kim
  • Patent number: 8429832
    Abstract: A process and a device for utilization of waste heat from a high-temperature hood in the dryer section of a paper machine. The waste heat from the high-temperature hood is applied to the waste steam and the condensate, respectively, from a steam system by means of a heat exchanger, thus improving utilization of the energy contained in the exhaust air from a high temperature hood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Andritz AG
    Inventors: Klaus Gissing, Wolfgang Promitzer
  • Patent number: 8429833
    Abstract: A restriction sensor system for identifying the existence of blockages in exhaust conduits of clothes dryers. The restriction sensor system may be used as a retrofit system that is capable of being installed on existing clothes dryers. The restriction sensor system may include a fitting configured to be coupled to an exhaust conduit of a clothes dryer and a blockage indicator housing positioned remote from a clothes dryer. The pressure sensing device may be capable of determining changes in air pressure in the exhaust conduit. Once the air pressure present in the exhaust conduit exceeds a threshold air pressure, the pressure sensing device may send a signal to an indicator to generate an alarm, which may be a visual alarm or audible alarm, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Inventor: Richard J. Harpenau
  • Patent number: 8375597
    Abstract: A dryer and a foreign material removing apparatus thereof are provided. The dryer and the foreign material removing apparatus can clearly remove foreign materials adhered to a filter using only a simple operation without the user effort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Seung Phyo Ahn, Jeong Yun Kim, Sang Ik Lee
  • Patent number: 8333019
    Abstract: A laundry dryer with a blower and an air duct configured to convey a flow of air toward the blower. The air duct includes one or more flow chambers with curved sections. The curved sections are configured to deflect the flow of air toward the blower. The laundry dryer also includes a displacement member disposed in the flow chamber in front of the blower and configured to produce an irrotational flow onto a wheel of the blower so as to reduce a formation of vortices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Miele & Cie. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Gossel, Christian Maiss
  • Patent number: 8272144
    Abstract: An electric household appliance (1) having a casing (2); a rotary drum (3) housing laundry to be dried and mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis (L) inside the casing (2); a door (4) which rotates to and from a work position closing an opening (2a) in the casing (2) to close the drum (3); a hot-air generator (5) for circulating hot air inside the drum (3); a steam generator (15) for circulating a steam jet inside the drum (3); an exhaust manifold (11) communicating with the drum (3) to allow outflow of air/steam from the drum (3); and a shutter device (30) for selectively opening/closing the exhaust manifold (11) to permit /prevent free outflow of air/steam from the drum (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V.
    Inventor: Luigi Arreghini
  • Patent number: 8256133
    Abstract: A dryer exhaust duct alarm detects the presence of lint or other obstructions in an exhaust duct or vent. A thin lever is suspended within the duct and is slightly cupped in shape to more effectively capture air flow. In the presence of uninhibited air flow, the lever is substantially displaced from its initial substantially-vertical position toward a substantially horizontal position. But when airflow is inhibited, the lever is not sufficiently displaced. A detector detects operation of the dryer. If the dryer operates for a determined period of time but the lever is not sufficiently displaced, the user is alerted of the problem. Other data may also be presented to the user, including real-time data over a communication medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Safety First Appliance Protection, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas J. Asciolla, Lawrance J. Paterno
  • Patent number: 8166670
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing lint from air that is discharged from a clothes dryer uses a lint filtration housing mounted on the frame of the clothes dryer, the filtration housing having an interior that contains a filter for removing lint from the dryer exhaust air flow stream. The housing provides an influent fitting for transmitting heating exhaust air from the drying chamber to the housing interior. An ambient air supply enables ambient air to be added to the filtration housing interior. One or more vanes is provided that create an annular vortex within the filtration housing interior. The flow of the annular vortex within the filtration housing interior can be between about 500 and 3,000 cubic feet per second. A flow line transmits pre-heated air from the filtration housing interior to the dryer interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Pellerin Milnor Corporation
    Inventor: Russell H. Poy
  • Patent number: 8061058
    Abstract: A restriction sensor system for identifying the existence of blockages in exhaust conduits of clothes dryers. The restriction sensor system may be used as a retrofit system that is capable of being installed on existing clothes dryers. The restriction sensor system may include a fitting configured to be coupled to an exhaust conduit of a clothes dryer and a blockage indicator housing positioned remote from a clothes dryer. The pressure sensing device may be capable of determining changes in air pressure in the exhaust conduit. Once the air pressure present in the exhaust conduit exceeds a threshold air pressure, the pressure sensing device may send a signal to an indicator to generate an alarm, which may be a visual alarm or audible alarm, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Inventor: Richard J. Harpenau
  • Patent number: 7891709
    Abstract: A sealing member of an exhaust pipe of a dryer prevents vibration of the exhaust pipe secured to an opening in a sheet of glass or a wall from transmission, and prevents exhaust gas from leaking from connection portions of a plurality of exhaust pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Kang Mo Choi
  • Publication number: 20100212180
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention discloses a process for reducing water content in wood material. The process includes the steps of: feeding the wood material into an overheated vapour filled, oxygen free drying apparatus; indirectly overheating the vapour in the drying apparatus by heating devices, whereby water and other chemical substances vaporise from the wood material into the atmosphere within the drying apparatus; releasing surplus drying apparatus vapour into separation devices which are connected to the drying apparatus; and discharging the dried wood material from the drying apparatus when the moisture content in the wood material has reached a level of less than 10% by weight. One embodiment of the present invention also discloses wood material drying devices to be used in the process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: SWEDISH EXERGY CONSULTING AB
    Inventors: Claes Münter, Prem Verma
  • Publication number: 20100199511
    Abstract: Disclosed is the dehumidifying apparatus for a dryer comprising: a case; a drum disposed inside the case and for receiving objects to be dried therein; and a hot air supplying unit for supplying hot air into the drum and drying the objects to be dried, the dehumidifying apparatus, comprising: a plurality of dehumidifying units, thereby capable of controlling humidity of exhausted air to a required level of humidity by removing moisture contained in air exhausted from the plurality of dehumidifying units in multiple steps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Inventors: Seung-Phyo Ahn, Sang-Ik Lee, Byeong-Jo Ryoo, Sung-Ho Song, Jeong-Yun Kim, Yang-Hwan Kim, Jae-Hyuk Wee, Dong-Hyun Kim, Yoon-Seob Eom, Yang-Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 7762007
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a cabinet or surround structure with an attachment for a removable front panel and a removable front panel for attachment to the cabinet. The appliance is a drum and a drum support structure supporting the drum for rotation. There is a movement interface between the drum support structure and the cabinet or surround structure, allowing the drum support structure to move between an operating condition within the cabinet and a maintenance condition wherein the drum and drum support structure are at least substantially disposed outside the envelope defined by the cabinet. In the operating condition the drum and support structure are hidden behind the removable front panel. They may be moved out to the maintenance condition after removal of the front panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Appliances Limited
    Inventors: Allen James Guinibert, Russell Joseph Jackson, Geoffrey Simon Frazerhurst
  • Patent number: 7644516
    Abstract: A clothes drying machine having a temperature sensor that may be easily repaired or replaced. The clothes drying machine includes a housing forming an external appearance of the clothes drying machine, a drying tub rotatably mounted in the housing, a hot air introducing duct to introduce hot air into the drying tub, a hot air discharging duct to discharge the hot air out of the drying tub, and a temperature sensor mounted at the front part of the hot air discharging duct to detect the temperature of the hot air passing through the hot air discharging duct. The temperature sensor is mounted at the front part of the hot air discharging duct so that an operator has easy access to the temperature sensor. Consequently, repair or replacement of the temperature sensor may be easily and conveniently performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Young Suk Chung
  • Patent number: 7603792
    Abstract: The dryer hose attachment apparatus provides a coupling with more than one embodiment. Each coupling rotationally engages the outlet hose provided for the dryer and the initial hose of a flex hose provided for exhausting air from a dryer environment. Each coupling provides for sealing the dryer exhaust air, from the dryer to the flexible exhaust hose. Each coupling provides for the apparatus to be fitted and to operate in close confines typical to clothes dryer environments. The flange of the dryer attachment may be fixed to the dryer via fasteners. The interior of the outlet hose of the dryer attachment provides sizing for interference fit around an existing hose which exits a dryer. And, both means of engagement may be employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Inventors: Loraine M McDonald, Douglas McDonald
  • Patent number: 7596884
    Abstract: A clothing dryer including: a housing; an exhaust pipe; a first fixing bracket disposed at the exhaust pipe; and a second fixing bracket disposed at the bottom of the housing, the first fixing bracket being fitable in the second fixing bracket. The exhaust pipe is fixed without using an additional fixing member, whereby assembly and disassembly of the clothing dryer are accomplished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Won-Tae Kim
  • Publication number: 20090235550
    Abstract: A drying apparatus and a method for operating a drying apparatus are presented by means of which a considerable increase in efficiency is possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventors: Anja Fluegge, Hans Fladt, Ruediger Fladt
  • Publication number: 20090071031
    Abstract: A condensed water discharge device for use in a laundry treatment machine and a laundry treatment machine are provided. The condensed water discharge device includes a pump housing having an air outlet and may thus be able to discharge air in the pump housing through the air outlet. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a pumping failure caused by air in the pump housing and thus to facilitate the discharge of condensed water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Kyung Tae Kim
  • Patent number: 7497030
    Abstract: A lint filter assembly for removing lint and particulate matter from a clothes dryer exhaust system includes a conduit adapter and a filtering element. In a preferred embodiment the lint filter is a secondary filter removably connected inline between conduits substantially at the point of communication of the exhaust gases through a wall or floor to the outside, the filter portion not exceeding the conduit size in diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Inventor: Richard A. Belgard
  • Publication number: 20090000139
    Abstract: A clothes dryer air intake system including a conduit having an outlet opening for connection to a clothes dryer and being positioned remote from the attic of a building. The conduit also has an inlet opening positioned within the attic of a building. A heater is connected to the conduit between the outlet opening and the inlet opening for warming air passing through the conduit. A thermostat detects the temperature of the air flowing through the conduit and energizes the heater in the event that the detected temperature is lower than a preset minimum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventor: Timothy M. Hodges
  • Publication number: 20080196266
    Abstract: A ductless dryer includes a main body, a drum rotatably installed at the main body, a heat exchanger for removing moisture from air exhausted from the drum, a circulation duct to flow the air exhausted from the drum into the heat exchanger, an exhaust duct to flow the air exhausted from the heat exchanger outside the dryer; and a noise reduction portion to attenuate noise propagation through the exhaust duct. As the ductless dryer is provided with the noise reduction portion, the noise propagation through the exhaust duct exposed into the room and the noise of the entire ductless dryer can be attenuated at the same time, whereby a quieter room environment can be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Inventors: Han-Yong Jung, Seung-Phyo Ahn, Sang-Ik Lee, Kyung-Mun Jung, Yoon-Seob Eom, Yang-Ho Kim, Jea-Hyuk Wee, Byeong-Jo Ryoo, Sung-Ho Song
  • Publication number: 20080110042
    Abstract: A method and a device for drying wet washing that has been placed in a drier device equipped with a rotatable drum. The stream of drying air is guided in such a way that the surface of the washing to be dried that is exposed to said stream is maximised. To achieve this, the invention provides a washing spacer, at least some sections of which are flexible and on which the washing to be dried can be placed. The spacer can then be rolled up together with the washing to be dried into a preferably cylindrical form. The washing spacer and the wet washing, which is rolled with a radial distance between its layers, is connected in an air-conductive, sealed manner to the extraction opening, allowing the stream of drying air to be guided through the washing spacer and the washing to be dried. Said method is extremely effective and reduces the drying times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Applicant: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH ü
    Inventors: Uwe Ackermann, Lothar Dittmer, Uwe-Jens Krausch, Harald Moschutz, Kai Nitschmann, Ingo Schulze, Andreas Stolze
  • Patent number: 7305775
    Abstract: Clothes drying machine comprising a rotating drum, an exhaust conduit into which flows the air issuing from the outlet aperture of the drum, a lint filter formed in the shape of a sector of a cylindrical surface, which is arranged in said exhaust conduit below said outlet aperture of the drum, with the axis thereof extending substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the drum, in which there are provided automatic means adapted to ensure cleaning of said filter through a brushing action; said automatic means comprise a brush connected to an end portion of a moving arm, which is hinged, on the other end portion thereof opposite to said brush, on to a rotation pin, said moving arm being slidably linked with a driving pin which is rotating, by means of a respective rotation arm, about a driving spindle that is driven rotatably about its own axis by automatic driving devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V.
    Inventors: Ugo Favret, Flavio Noviello
  • Patent number: 6971186
    Abstract: A filter assembly for collecting lint in use with a dryer having an interior compartment. The filter assembly includes a control unit, an input air pathway in communication with the interior compartment, an exhaust, and a micro-filter. The input air pathway carries air and lint from the interior compartment through the micro-filter into the exhaust. The filter assembly includes a first and second air flow sensor in the interior compartment for determining the change of air flow between the input air pathway and exhaust. The control unit is in communication with the first and second air flow sensors and an alarm. The control unit triggers the alarm when the air flow sensors detect a restricted pattern of air flow, thereby signaling a build-up of lint in the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Inventors: TJ Chin, Patricia Farrow
  • Patent number: 6951063
    Abstract: An intermediate assembly has a vertical plate with an orifice. The intermediate assembly also has a first and a second side wall and a top and a bottom wall. The walls extend rearwardly from the orifice with a rear wall. The walls are joined and form a generally rectilinear chamber. A lip has a planar surface parallel with the vertical plate with an intermediate surface coupling the planar surface of the lip and the vertical plate of the intermediate assembly. The lip forms an orifice essentially coextensive with the orifice of the intermediate assembly. The lip has an upper edge and a lower edge. Between the upper and lower edges are a first side edge and a second side edge. The edges of the lip each have a large radius of curvature. A circular air hole with a large diameter is located in the top wall. The intermediate member and lip are integrally fabricated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Inventor: Rodolfo Hernandez-Zelaya
  • Patent number: 6944969
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method and an installation or system for drying fibrous material. The method comprises the step of ventilating very moist air through the fibrous material located in a drying zone. The moisture content of the moist air is less than that inside the drying zone, its pressure is close to atmospheric pressure and its temperature is higher than that of the material to be dried. The method additionally comprises the step of recovering the heat of condensation of the water vapor extracted from the fibrous material to heat the moist air, providing leaks between the outside ambient air and the ventilation circuit upstream and downstream of the drying zone, making possible a mass and heat exchange. It is possible to ensure heat and mass balance without expelling large amounts of moist air into the ambient air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Armines
    Inventors: Denis Clodic, Lionel Palandre
  • Publication number: 20040250442
    Abstract: A drum washing machine, which has a clothes-drying unit with a plurality of heat pipes. The heat pipes recover, during a drying-mode operation of the drum washing machine, heat from high temperature humid air flowing from a water tub, and combine the recovered heat with low temperature dry air flowing from an area around a condensing nozzle, thus saving time and electricity during the drying-mode operation. In the clothes-drying unit, an air duct includes first and second duct parts, having a condensing nozzle installed in the first duct part, and a blower fan and a heater installed in the second duct part. A lower end of the heat pipe is arranged in a lower end of the first duct part, and an upper end of the heat pipe is arranged in an upper end of the first duct part. The heat pipe thus recovers the heat from the air, which flows in the lower end of the first duct part, and combines the recovered heat with the air, which flows in the upper end of the first duct part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Doo-Young Ryu
  • Publication number: 20040237330
    Abstract: A Rigid Dryer Duct Adapter, facilitating the connection of an exhaust system to a domestic clothes dryer in confined areas. The system comprising a flexible aluminised duct connected to a damper permanently installed through an exterior wall directing moist airflow out of a home.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventor: Roger Stanley Fuller
  • Patent number: 6785981
    Abstract: A restriction sensor system for identifying the existence of blockages in exhaust conduits of clothes dryers. The restriction sensor system may include a pressure sensing device having a body configured to be coupled to an exhaust conduit of a clothes dryer. The pressure sensing device may be capable of determining changes in air pressure in the exhaust conduit. Once the air pressure present in the exhaust conduit exceeds a threshold air pressure, the pressure sensing device may send a signal to an indicator to generate an alarm, which may be a visual alarm or audible alarm, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: In-O-Vate Technologies
    Inventor: Richard John Harpenau
  • Patent number: 6754976
    Abstract: The in-wall dryer vent for venting to another floor is used to vent clothes dryer exhaust to a floor other than that on which the clothes dryer is located. The invention has an upper portion adapted for installation within the three and one-half inch cavity inside a wall constructed with standard two-by-four studs, and has a lower portion that expands to a width of at least four inches from front to back. The upper portion has a flanged opening adapted to extend through drywall and attach to standard clothes dryer outlet coupling devices. The lower portion has an outlet tube adapted for coupling to standard dryer vent piping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Inventor: David G. Edwards
  • Patent number: 6745491
    Abstract: An intermediate assembly has a vertical plate with a rectangular opening. The intermediate assembly has a container with side walls and a rear wall and a horizontal upper wall. The upper wall has parallel side edges rearwardly and a semicircular edge forwardly. A securement frame has a forward periphery with a rearward projection removably positioned within the opening in the plate. A tube assembly includes an upper tube positionable above the upper wall and a lower tube coaxial with the upper tube and positionable below the upper wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Inventor: Rodolfo Hernandez-Zelaya
  • Patent number: 6729586
    Abstract: A system for holding a portion of the flexible exhaust hose from a dryer within a wall, thereby allowing the dryer to be placed in close proximity to the wall is provided. The system provides a dryer rough-in box including a contoured surface for smoothly guiding the flexible exhaust hose to minimize bending and kinking. An integral segment of duct is provided to allow for convenient and aesthetic installation, where the connection of the system to the duct in the was is hidden within the wall. Additionally, the rough-in box includes an opening structured and arranged to snugly fit a gas line is provided, thereby aiding in.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Inventors: Ralph L. Arguijo, Ivan H. Jack
  • Patent number: 6725563
    Abstract: A drying method, a drying device, and a drying machine, capable of remarkably reducing a drying time by assigning the standby time for an article to be dried to a preliminary drying time in drying, wherein hot air is supplied to the drying machine so as to dry the article to be dried and, at the same time, hot air exhausted from the drying machine is led into a preliminary drying machine so as to preliminarily dry the article to be dried before drying, and then the article to be dried contained in the preliminary drying machine is fed to the drying machine for drying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Hakko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Miyamoto, Shigemitsu Hayashi
  • Patent number: 6640461
    Abstract: In the flow path to atmosphere venting hot exhaust gases of a clothes dryer, a fluid-tight seal between a flow-diverting elbow telescoped about a clothes dryer exiting conduit consisting of a rubber sleeve in increasing thicknesses in width in the direction of flow effective in providing an establish sealing contact into the sleeve at a location of its thickness which obviates leakage of gas through the telescoping connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Inventor: Edwin L. Berger
  • Patent number: 6637127
    Abstract: An air flow detecting system is provided for monitoring air flow in a dryer system. The dryer system has an exhaust passage through which air from a drying compartment flows. The air flow detecting system includes a detector for monitoring a rate at which air from the drying compartment travels through the exhaust passage, and a signal generator. The signal generator is responsive to the detector and generates an electrical signal for which at least one of phase, frequency, voltage, or current varies over a continuous range based on a measured flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Ivan Reede, Marc Villeneuve, David G. Allen
  • Publication number: 20030192195
    Abstract: A clothes dryer vent system is designed for hollow walls framed with scantling and covered with sheathing secured to the scantling. A rough-in box has a main body with a substantially planar rear panel, non-parallel curved side panels, a curved bottom panel, and a planar top panel that is generally perpendicular to the rear panel. The side, top and bottom panels intersect and are unitary with the rear panel, with each side panel intersecting and unitary with both top and bottom panels. The main body has a stub connector pipe affixed within the top panel that is designed to accept a 4-inch diameter metal vent pipe that has been compressed to an oval configuration. The stub connector pipe has an internal step that limits the insertion depth of the metal vent pipe. A flexible vent hose mounting insert has a stub pipe extension that fits within the stub connector pipe. The mounting insert has a pair of retaining clips that allow it to be secured to the main body of the rough-in box.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventor: Robert W. Harding
  • Patent number: 6584702
    Abstract: A metal plate (52) is connected to a wall (10). Plate (42) includes a vent opening (48) that communicates with vent ducting (18) with the wall (10). A magnetic sheet body (52) is connected to a vent tube (60) located at the back of a clothes dryer (64). The clothes dryer (64) is moved towards the wall (10) and the magnetic sheet body (52) is moved against the metal plate (42). A vent opening (54) in the magnetic sheet body (52) is put into alignment with the vent opening (48) in the metal plate (42). The magnetic sheet body (52) provides a seal between the two vent openings (54, 48).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Inventor: Greg A. Irey
  • Patent number: 6550157
    Abstract: A clothes dryer vent system is designed for hollow walls framed with scantling and covered with sheathing secured to the scantling, the walls having a hollow interior space that is uniformly, at least about 3½ inches wide. The vent system includes a rough-in box for recessed mounting within a hollow wall, the rough-in box having a substantially planar rear panel, side panels and nonparallel top and bottom panels, the side panels and the top and bottom panels intersecting and unitary with the rear panel, each side panel intersecting and unitary with both top and bottom panels, the rough-in box also having a depth no greater than about 4 inches, and a stub connector pipe affixed within the top panel, the stub connector pipe having a lower portion of oval-shaped cross section within the box that is couplable to a flexible dryer vent hose and an upper portion outside the box directly couplable to an oblong vent pipe having a minor cross-sectional dimension no greater than about 2 inches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Inventor: Robert W. Harding
  • Patent number: 6463673
    Abstract: A quicker, safer, more reliable and more convenient way of connecting a dryer to an exhaust pipe extending from a wall therebehind is disclosed. An apparatus to facilitate connection of a dryer having an vent pipe extending from a rear side portion thereof, to an exhaust pipe extending outwardly from a wall, comprises: a pan portion having a bottom side portion having a peripheral edge portion and a lateral sidewall connected around and extending away from the peripheral edge portion and an inner side of the bottom portion; the lateral sidewall adapted to laterally and resiliently compress; and, a short tubular section having one end portion adapted to fit closely together with the dryer vent pipe, and an opposite end portion extending through and connected to the outer side of the bottom portion of the pan portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Inventor: John F. Gherna
  • Patent number: 6370794
    Abstract: An elbow for use in a dryer duct assembly comprising at least one component for connecting a dryer vent outlet and an exhaust vent. The component has an inlet and outlet. The dryer vent outlet and one of the component inlet and outlet have a standardized diameter. The elbow comprises a body defining an interior flow passage for permitting the passing of dryer exhaust air through the body. A first end of the body terminates in a first edge to define an inlet opening to the interior flow passage. A second end of the body terminates in a second edge to define an outlet opening to the interior flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Builder's Best, Inc.
    Inventor: W. Gregory Tuggle
  • Patent number: 6250207
    Abstract: A chamber serving for a heat treatment of a particular food product, which for example can be pre-processed potato pieces which are to be prepared as French fried potatoes, and therefore have a content of evaporable substances, such as fat. In the chamber is a grid for, during operation, carrying the product, and one or more quartz lamps for generating heat for the process. The chamber is furthermore fitted with an exhaust channel which via a filter device connects the chamber to the open. Above the grid is placed a cabinet which is open at the bottom, for mounting the quartz lamps. The cabinet is via an inlet duct connected to the open. In the inlet duct is placed a ventilator for sending an air flow into the cabinet via the inlet duct. The air acts as a shield which keeps for example fat vapors at a distance so that they cannot come into contact with the quartz lamps and disintegrate in the high temperature of these.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: PLF International A/S
    Inventor: Ejner Björn Hansen
  • Patent number: 6230418
    Abstract: System for installation of a complete, safe, compact, and efficient dryer exhaust. Provides access to internal areas of conduit for dryer lint build-up removal. Allows dryer placement in tight confines: laundry closets, pantry areas, first floor apartments. System may be used to route dryer exhaust conduit inside of dwelling walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Inventor: Dennis R. Gomulinski
  • Patent number: 6185837
    Abstract: A vent system has a rotatable connection between flexible conduits, which carry heated air from the dryer to an external location, such as the atmosphere. The vent system consists of a swivel coupler rotatably connecting a pair of flexible exhaust conduits, one of which is readily attachable to a dryer exhaust outlet, which discharges exhaust air from the dryer, and the other of which is readily attachable to an outlet pipe, which carries exhaust air from the flexible exhaust conduit through a wall and to the atmosphere. Each flexible exhaust conduit, which is laterally flexible and axially extensible, includes a segmented elbow allowing bending up to approximately a right angle in one direction. The swivel coupler includes a rotatable joint wherein an annular extension on one half of the connector travels in an annular indentation in the other half so as to enable rotation therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Builder's Best, Inc.
    Inventor: W. Gregory Tuggle