Abstract: A vented tumble laundry dryer is provided with a heat pump subassembly configured to join with a heater inlet and a blower outlet in an open air flow circuit. The heat pump subassembly forms a closed refrigerant loop. Condenser and evaporator heat exchangers of the subassembly form parts of the open air flow circuit. Air drawn from inside the dryer cabinet passes sequentially through the condenser heat exchanger, the heater, the dryer drum, the process air fan, and the evaporator heat exchanger before being vented to the outside. The heat exchangers have a modular construction that permits one to be stacked on the other and to be angularly offset with respect to the other in both horizontal and vertical planes, thus facilitating integration of the heat pump subassembly into existing vented dryer designs.

Abstract: A tumble dryer is provided with an air closure system. The air closure system may suppress and/or conceal a fire or burning within a tumble dryer. The air closure system may include an air closure assembly including a guide mountable to a portion of the tumble dryer's ventilation system, and a shutter movably coupled to the guide. The air closure system may further include a sensor configured to complete a circuit supplying electricity to an actuator provided at the air closure assembly when the sensor senses a condition indicative of a fire or burning within the tumble dryer. In response, the actuator may release the shutter such that it closes off an opening within the guide and restricts the airflow through the ventilation system, thus suppressing and concealing the fire or burning within the tumble dryer.