And Supporting, Driving, Sealing, Or Bearing Means For Drum Patents (Class 34/601)
  • Patent number: 8132339
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cloth treating apparatus, which supplies hot air to a accommodating space receiving clothes to dry the clothes. The cloth treating apparatus includes a cabinet including a accommodating space to receive clothes, and an electric component chamber, in which a moisture supply device to spray steam to the accommodating space and a air supply device to supply hot air are installed; and a condensed water treating unit to treat condensed water, generated by condensing the steam sprayed to the accommodating space or the hot air supplied from the air supply device. Therefore, the cloth treating apparatus treats the condensed water generated in the accommodating space, and thus prevents the generation of substances harmful to the human body, such as mold, in the accommodating space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jung Wook Moon, Dae Yun Park, Sog Kie Hong, Jong Seok Kim, Seung Gyu Ryu, Hye Yong Park, Chang Gyu Choi, Dong Won Kim
  • Patent number: 8112903
    Abstract: A clothes drying machine comprises a drum (1), a first fan (5) blowing a first flow of drying air through a drying-air conduit, a condenser (3) through which said flow of drying air passes, a cooling-air conduit conveying a second flow of fresh air through said condenser, said second flow being circulated by a second fan (6), and a motor adapted to drive said fans. There is provided an additional condensation element (11) run in parallel of said conduit of drying air, and a respective second air conduit connecting said additional condensation element to said drying air conduit; said additional condensation element is cooled by air at room temperature inside the dryer machine and/or by a wall of it, and the water there condensed is being passed to a common condense recovery reservoir (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V.
    Inventors: Ugo Favret, Flavio Noviello
  • Patent number: 8112904
    Abstract: A drum-type washer/dryer having an evaporator for performing dehumidification by cooling air drawn from the inner space of a drum and also having condenser for heating the air dehumidified by the evaporator, wherein the air heated by the condenser is made to sequentially pass through a duct and a blowhole and blown as dry air to clothes in the drum. A backflow preventing portion is provided in the duct, and when bubbles flow back into the duct from the inner space of the drum through the blowhole, the backflow preventing portion functions as resistance for preventing the back flow of the bubbles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Home Appliances Corporation, Toshiba Consumer Electronics Holdings Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuyuki Kono, Tatsuya Saito, Tatsuo Ioku, Satoru Nishiwaki
  • Patent number: 8109011
    Abstract: A bulkhead structure for a clothes dryer has a generally cylindrical outer wall that fits within an open end of the clothes dryer drum to define a junction. The bulkhead has two side wall portions facing into the drum on opposing sides of a bulkhead access opening. Each of the side wall portions has a recess extending from the bulkhead access opening towards the cylindrical outer wall. The recess has a concave curvature terminating in an outer deflection wall inwardly spaced from the cylindrical outer wall. The recess and the outer deflection cause clothing contacting the recess and moving towards the dryer drum to be swept away from the junction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Mabe Canada, Inc.
    Inventor: Gabriel Prajescu
  • Patent number: 8104192
    Abstract: A laundry dryer is provided. The laundry dryer includes a drying drum (14), a drying duct (17), a heater (166), an upper base (22), a lower base (21), and a blower (23). The drying drum (14) hold laundry. The drying duct (17) guides indoor air to be suctioned into the drying drum (14). The heater (16) heats the air suctioned into the drying drum (14) The upper base includes a drum connecting duct (203) that guides air passing from the drying drum (14) in a downward direction. The lower base (21) has the upper base (22) mounted therabove, and forms an air passage (201) that exhausts the air guided downward by the drum connecting duct (203) an indoor space. The blower (23) is mounted on one side of the lower base, and suctions air inside the drying drum (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hwan-Joo Myung, Soon-Jo Lee
  • Patent number: 8104191
    Abstract: A laundry dryer includes a rotatable drum, an air delivery system selectively operable to provide air into the drum at a first flow rate and a second flow rate that is less than the first flow rate, and a moisture delivery system operable to provide moisture (e.g., water mist or steam) into the drum while air is being provided at the lower second flow rate, and during drum rotation (tumbling), to thus enhance dispersion of the moisture into the fabrics of the load, and the attendant dewrinkling/refresh benefits. The air delivery system can include a reversible blower that provides air at the first flow rate when operated in a first direction and provides air at the second flow rate when operated in an opposite second direction. The drum can be a reversibly rotatable drum that is rotatable in a first and an opposite second direction, and the dryer can include a drive motor that both rotates the drum and operates the blower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Paul Ricklefs, Brian Douglas Ripley
  • Patent number: 8087183
    Abstract: A clothes dryer front bearing structure that fits within an open end of the dryer drum has wear resistant bearing glides attached to an upper arcuate wall portion without the use of an additional fastener. The upper arcuate wall portion has one or more pairs of spaced apart apertures that define between them a glide wall supporting portion. The bearing structure also has pairs of spaced apart curb walls for each pair of apertures that extend below the upper arcuate wall portion adjacent to the apertures. The bearing glide has an intermediate portion overlying the glide wall supporting portion for rotatably supporting the open end of the drum, and opposing end portions that each pass through a corresponding aperture for engagement with a corresponding curb wall to thereby limit longitudinal movement of the glide and restrain the opposing end portions of the glide in the apertures and within the curb walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Mabe Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Gabriel Prajescu, Dominique Larochelle
  • Patent number: 8082678
    Abstract: Household-type clothes drying machine provided with a rotating drum (1), first means adapted to circulate a stream of drying air through said drum and comprising an appropriate inflow conduit and an outflow conduit for said air stream, second means (3) adapted to generate a gas or vapour stream, a first delivery pipe conduit (4) connecting said second means with an ejection arrangement located on the inner surface of the loading door of the drum, a second drain pipe conduit (7) adapted to collect the condensed moisture from said ejection arrangement and convey it into a collecting container; said ejection arrangement comprises a substantially sealed cell that is however provided with a first port (9) to enable the gas/vapour stream to flow in from said first delivery pipe conduit, a second port (10) to enable liquid and condensate to flow into said drain pipe conduit, and an ejection window (11) that opens into the interior of said drum and is adapted to eject said gas/vapour stream flowing in from said first
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V.
    Inventors: Giovanni Paruzzolo, Silvano Cimetta
  • Patent number: 8069582
    Abstract: A dryer includes a cabinet; a drum rotatably mounted inside the cabinet; a front panel provided between the cabinet and the drum; a valve provided inside the cabinet to control supply and cutoff of gas and an amount of the supplied gas; a fixing piece for mounting the valve on one side thereof; and a bracket coupled to the other side of the fixing piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Ju Dong Lee, Chang Hoo Kim
  • Patent number: 8042284
    Abstract: A heating system and a method of controlling the heating system are provided. When a heating unit and a switch are turned on and off repeatedly by the predetermined number of times or more, only some of heaters of the heating unit are turned on, thereby increasing service life of the heating unit and the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hea Kyung Yoo, Seog Ho Go
  • Patent number: 8028439
    Abstract: A clothes dryer bearing structure has an arcuate channel for receiving the open end of a dryer drum. The channel has an inner wall portion, a base wall portion extending radially outward from the inner wall portion and an outer wall portion extending from the base wall portion. A gasket is positioned in the channel in contact with the dryer drum. The outer wall portion has a plurality of spaced apart elongated clips formed on the outer wall portion and curving back into the channel. At least one of the outer wall portion and the base wall portion has a plurality of elongated bumps protruding into the channel. Each of the elongated bumps is interspaced between the elongated clips whereby the gasket lies serpentinely in the channel ascending over bumps and descending below the clips to prevent slippage of the gasket along the channel during dryer drum rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Mabe Canada Inc.
    Inventor: Gabriel Prajescu
  • Patent number: 8015727
    Abstract: A dryer rack for use with an apparatus for drying an object inside a drum is disclosed, wherein the dryer rack includes a platform for having an upper surface for supporting the object. The platform may include at least one grip for loading and unloading the dryer rack into an interior space of the drum. The at least one grip is flush with the upper surface of the platform. The at least one grip is formed in a forward portion of the platform, to be near an access point of the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dong Geun Lee, Il Tak Han, Tae Woo Kim
  • Patent number: 7992322
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a dryer having a heater-integrated intake duct capable of reducing thermal loss and preventing overheating of the dryer. The dryer includes a support panel having a through-hole, an intake duct communicating with the through-hole, a drum into which air flows via the through-hole, a heater disposed inside the intake duct to heat the air flowing into the drum, and a heat exchanging part transferring heat of the heated air into the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Chang Hoo Kim
  • Patent number: 7992321
    Abstract: A laundry dryer includes a cylindrical drum shell mounted for rotation on front and rear stationary bulkheads of the dryer. A drive system is configured to rotate the drum in first and second opposite directions. Three rollers are arranged about a lower portion of the drum circumference, on the rear bulkhead, to stably support the rotatable drum during rotation in the first and second directions. The arrangement can also avoid potential flexing and distortion of a cylindrical drum shell of relatively large diameter. In addition, a reversing idler assembly is provided for maintaining proper tension on a drive belt during drum rotation in the two directions. The assembly provides a biased mount for two pulleys on a pair of arms integrally formed with a spring as a single piece, in lieu of separate articulated mounting arms and a separate biasing spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products
    Inventors: Michael Paul Ricklefs, Brian Douglas Ripley, Robin Alan Hultman
  • Patent number: 7987615
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an exhaust structure for a clothes dryer in an apartment building. The exhaust structure includes at least one riser pipe mounted in a vertical direction crossing every floor of a building, a plurality of branch pipes branched from the riser pipe to a household in the every floor to guide exhaust gas from the household to the riser pipe, a lint filter provided in each of the plurality of branch pipes to filter lint included in the exhaust gas, a first pressure sensor provided in front of the lint filter to sense a pressure in each of the plurality of branch pipes, and a filter controller to determine whether the lint filter is blocked, by receiving a value of the pressure sensed by the first pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: In Hee Han, Won Tug Son
  • Patent number: 7987616
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a laundry machine. The laundry machine includes a drum rotatably mounted in a cabinet, a hot air heater to heat air and supply hot air into the drum, a steam generator to supply steam into the drum, a water supply source detachably mounted in the cabinet to supply water into the steam generator, and a water leakage preventing unit to prevent water leakage when the water supply source is detachably mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sang Hun Bae, Chang Woo Son, Chul Jin Choi, Dong Hyun Kim, Young Bok Son, Heung Jae Kim
  • Patent number: 7984568
    Abstract: A condensation washer-dryer, in particular, the air-guiding process. The base module is used to receive function parts and components of the air guide and is closed on the rear side by means of a process air cover and forms a plastic, stable support structure for the washer-dryer. The connecting surfaces are large and extend, preferably, over the entire width of the washer-dryer. Due to said embodiment, air guiding channels are formed in a simple manner on the rear side of the base module and the housing of the process air ventilator is closed on the rear side. Sealing elements are no longer required due to said welding of said type of connection and an exceptionally high mechanical rigidity is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Lothar Dittmer, Holger Löffler
  • Patent number: 7975401
    Abstract: A clothes dryer has a degree of dryness control system that is responsive to moisture level of clothing articles tumbling in a drum and a target moisture value to control the drying cycle of the clothes dryer. The clothes dryer has a load size parameter producing module and an air flow detection parameter module. These modules generate one of two parameter conditions used by the processor to modify or select an appropriate moisture target value. The load size producing parameter module generates one of a small load input parameter and a large load input parameter. The air flow detection module produces one of a first and second air flow parameter to be utilized by the degree of dryness processor. As a result, the processor selects one of four target moisture values from these conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Mabe Canada Inc.
    Inventor: Sébastien Beaulac
  • Patent number: 7946057
    Abstract: A support structure for a clothes dryer comprising modular units for receiving functional parts and an air duct components. The modular units are incorporated into the support structure. The inventive support structure for stabilizing the clothes dryer comprises a front part in the form of a combined body provided with an end shield, a front wall, a base module on the bottom side comprising a base body and a process air lid, a rear module comprising the rear wall, a heating device and a cover. The joining surfaces between the modular units are located on a vertical plane. Connections are constructed in such a way that they are devoid of sealing elements which are currently used for joining surfaces. With respect to known embodiments, the inventive clothes dryer structural design is producible with a low material consumption and, in general, can be produced in a more rational manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Lothar Dittmer, Holger Löffler
  • Patent number: 7926202
    Abstract: A base module for a condenser tumble dryer housing the functional parts and air conduction components and additionally being configured as part of the support structure of the tumble dryer. The base module comprises perpendicular joint faces in relation to the front end shield and the rear process air cover. The joint faces lie essentially on at least one perpendicular plane or on at least two perpendicular planes that are offset in a staggered manner in relation to one another, have a large surface area and preferably extend over the entire width of the tumble dryer. The proposed base module has significant advantages in terms of its mechanical stability as an individual structural component and as part of the entire support structure and in terms of the effective conduction of the air streams, the production of the individual parts and the assembly of the final module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Lothar Dittmer, Holger Löffler
  • Patent number: 7913419
    Abstract: A non-tumble dryer comprises a cabinet and a drawer configured to support an article to be dried and slidably mounted to the cabinet. An air supply system provides air to a drying chamber formed at least partially by one of the cabinet and the drawer for drying the article supported by the drawer. The non-tumble dryer can function as a pedestal whereby the top of the cabinet can be configured to support a laundry appliance in an elevated position. Alternatively, the cabinet can overlie one or more laundry appliances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Donald M. Tomasi, Robert W. Meyer, Matthew D. Rhodes, Richard A. Sunshine
  • Patent number: 7900372
    Abstract: A clothes dryer has horizontally extending louvres located in its rear cabinet wall that permit ambient air to enter the dryer cabinet during normal dryer operation. U-shaped cover brackets are positioned to horizontally extend and cover the louvres where the brackets each define a horizontally extending airflow channel having opposing open ends. Air entering the dryer flows through the louvres along the airflow channels and out through the open ends. The cover bracket helps to contain a fire within the dryer cabinet should one occur by restricting flow of ignited particles and other debris as a result of a fire from exiting through the louvre.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Mabe Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Silvia Ionelia Prajescu, Pasquale Antonio Renzo, Dominique Larochelle
  • 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: 7748139
    Abstract: A laundry dryer includes a dry drum in which laundry is loaded, a lower housing coupled to a rear wall of the dry drum by a rivet, an upper housing seated on the upper housing, and a journal bearing including a bearing inserted between the upper and lower housings and a shaft coupled to the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Kyung Seop Hong, Jun Seok Lee, Seong No Yoon
  • Patent number: 7661202
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a clothes dryer, in which mounting/dismounting of a fan is made easy by clamping a motor shaft with a tool, such as a spanner, effectively in cases when the fan is dismounted/mounted from/on the motor shaft for service of the product. For this, a motor shaft structure, in a clothes dryer including a drying drum rotatably mounted in a body, a motor bracket fixed to a bottom of an inside of the body, a motor mounted on the motor bracket for generating a rotating power, and a fan coupled to the motor with a shaft, includes chambered parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: In Hee Han, Soo Won Park
  • Publication number: 20100024243
    Abstract: A laundry dryer includes a rotatable drum, an air delivery system selectively operable to provide air into the drum at a first flow rate and a second flow rate that is less than the first flow rate, and a moisture delivery system operable to provide moisture (e.g., water mist or steam) into the drum while air is being provided at the lower second flow rate, and during drum rotation (tumbling), to thus enhance dispersion of the moisture into the fabrics of the load, and the attendant dewrinkling/refresh benefits. The air delivery system can include a reversible blower that provides air at the first flow rate when operated in a first direction and provides air at the second flow rate when operated in an opposite second direction. The drum can be a reversibly rotatable drum that is rotatable in a first and an opposite second direction, and the dryer can include a drive motor that both rotates the drum and operates the blower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS
    Inventors: Michael Paul Ricklefs, Brian Douglas Ripley
  • Patent number: 7640678
    Abstract: Provided is a laundry dryer. The laundry dryer includes a drying drum for inserting laundry in, a base, and a cabinet enclosing the drying drum and the base. The base includes an outside air intake port that suctions indoor air, an air passage for moist air from the drying drum to pass through, and an impurity descending slot recessed a predetermined depth at a front of the outside air intake port for impurities to fall into.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Soon Jo Lee, Hwan Joo Myung, Hung Myong Cho
  • Publication number: 20090320323
    Abstract: This device comprises a drum having a lateral surface through which fluid can pass, and two flexible belts (2) which pass over the lateral surface of the drum (1) at a distance from one another, each of them on an idle guide roller (3) of its own. Each roller (3) is mounted so as to pivot about a vertical axis (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: RIETER PERFOJET
    Inventor: Jean-Michel Dubus
  • Patent number: 7614162
    Abstract: A clothes dryer door assembly with a viewing window is adapted to be reversibly mounted to a clothes dryer cabinet and has an inner door assembly supporting an inner window and an outer door assembly supporting an outer window. The inner door assembly removably carries a hinge and the outer door assembly is removably secured with the inner door assembly. In order to reverse the door, the outer door assembly is removed from the inner door assembly and rotated 180 degrees. The hinge is removed from the inner door assembly and re-positioned 180 degrees on the inner door assembly. The outer door assembly is then reattached to the inner door assembly. This reversing of the door assembly of the present invention does not require complete disassembly of either of the inner or outer door assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Mabe Canada Inc.
    Inventor: Pasquale Antonio Renzo
  • Patent number: 7562467
    Abstract: A dryer and a motor mounting structure of the same are provided. The dryer includes: a cabinet; a drum housed inside of the cabinet; a motor for providing a driving force to the drum; a belt for connecting a driving shaft of the motor with the drum; a base disposed at a lower side of the drum; a motor supporter having a pass-through part, which is disposed at its one side and supports the driving shaft; a cushion provided between the driving shaft and the motor supporter; a guide rib provided at the base; and a guide rib inserting part provided at the motor supporter to have a corresponding shape of the guide rib, such that the motor supporter is slid and mounted on the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Young Jin Doh
  • Patent number: 7559156
    Abstract: A door assembly having a viewing window for use with a clothes dryer cabinet has a mask frame for masking the view of the door assembly and for securing an inner window in the assembly. The door assembly further utilizes the hinge structure and a horizontally disposed retainer to retain the inner window in place when the door assembly is complete. The inner window is mounted within the door assembly to slope downwardly and rearwardly of the inner door frame support. When the door is closed, the sloping inner window is positioned to cover a lint trap opening in the dryer while optimizing space within the dryer due to the sloping window wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Mabe Canada Inc.
    Inventor: Pasquale Antonio Renzo
  • Publication number: 20090158616
    Abstract: A laundry dryer includes a cylindrical drum shell mounted for rotation on front and rear stationary bulkheads of the dryer. A drive system is configured to rotate the drum in first and second opposite directions. Three rollers are arranged about a lower portion of the drum circumference, on the rear bulkhead, to stably support the rotatable drum during rotation in the first and second directions. The arrangement can also avoid potential flexing and distortion of a cylindrical drum shell of relatively large diameter. In addition, a reversing idler assembly is provided for maintaining proper tension on a drive belt during drum rotation in the two directions. The assembly provides a biased mount for two pulleys on a pair of arms integrally formed with a spring as a single piece, in lieu of separate articulated mounting arms and a separate biasing spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS
    Inventors: Michael Paul Ricklefs, Brian Douglas Ripley, Robin Alan Hultman
  • Patent number: 7536807
    Abstract: A program-controlled laundry drier equipped with a rotary drum in which the material to be dried is inserted and moved during the drying process. The dryer comprising a heater for heating the drying air and a blower which guides the drying air stream into the interior of the drum. The axis of a current generator is mechanically coupled to the rotary drum and the output voltage of the current generator is applied to the excitation winding of a relay whose switching contacts switch the heating current circuit for the drying air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventor: Carsten Baier
  • Patent number: 7526879
    Abstract: A drum washing machine and a clothes dryer equipped with a thermoelectric module are disclosed. The thermoelectric module includes a heat absorption side and a heat dissipation side which absorbs and dissipates heat at a junction between two dissimilar metals depending on direction of current flow through the junction. The heat absorption side is disposed at a hot air flowing passage. Accordingly, the drying apparatus can increase energy efficiency with minor structural modification and becomes environmentally friendly unlike a conventional drying apparatus using a heat pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sun Cheol Bae, Ja In Koo, Jin Seok Hu, Yang Hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 7523564
    Abstract: A dryer is provided. The dryer includes a housing coupled to a rear wall of a drum, a housing cover, a bearing, and a supporting holder. The housing cover is coupled to the housing. The bearing is interposed between the housing and the housing cover. The supporting holder is interposed between the housing and the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Young Jin Doh
  • Publication number: 20090083991
    Abstract: A clothes dryer bearing structure has an arcuate channel for receiving the open end of a dryer drum. The channel has an inner wall portion, a base wall portion extending radially outward from the inner wall portion and an outer wall portion extending from the base wall portion. A gasket is positioned in the channel in contact with the dryer drum. The outer wall portion has a plurality of spaced apart elongated clips formed on the outer wall portion and curving back into the channel. At least one of the outer wall portion and the base wall portion has a plurality of elongated bumps protruding into the channel. Each of the elongated bumps is interspaced between the elongated clips whereby the gasket lies serpentinely in the channel ascending over bumps and descending below the clips to prevent slippage of the gasket along the channel during dryer drum rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: MABE CANADA INC.
    Inventor: Gabriel Prajescu
  • Publication number: 20090083992
    Abstract: A clothes dryer front bearing structure that fits within an open end of the dryer drum has wear resistant bearing glides attached to an upper arcuate wall portion without the use of an additional fastener. The upper arcuate wall portion has one or more pairs of spaced apart apertures that define between them a glide wall supporting portion. The bearing structure also has pairs of spaced apart curb walls for each pair of apertures that extend below the upper arcuate wall portion adjacent to the apertures. The bearing glide has an intermediate portion overlying the glide wall supporting portion for rotatably supporting the open end of the drum, and opposing end portions that each pass through a corresponding aperture for engagement with a corresponding curb wall to thereby limit longitudinal movement of the glide and restrain the opposing end portions of the glide in the apertures and within the curb walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: MABE CANADA INC.
    Inventors: Gabriel Prajescu, Dominique Larochelle
  • Patent number: 7506458
    Abstract: A drying machine having a drum mounted within a cabinet on a base unit is provided. The base unit includes a base lower unit, and a base upper unit positioned atop the base lower unit to define passages therebetween. The base unit includes a moisture sensor mounting portion that receives a moisture sensor on a top of the base upper unit. The moisture sensor senses a moisture level of air flowing through the passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Soon Jo Lee, Hwan Joo Myung
  • Publication number: 20090028214
    Abstract: A method for monitoring the proper functioning of a temperature-dependent resistor, particularly a NTC resistor, for measuring the temperature of a medium heated by a heat source. Said medium is preferably the air flow in a clothes dryer for drying clothes. In order to increase the safety of a device, in particular a clothes dryer, where the temperature-dependent resistor is used in combination with a heat source, it is checked, once the heat source is switched on, whether the temperature measured by the resistor after a first predetermined period of time following the switching on of the heat source falls below a predetermined temperature threshold value. If this is the case, monitoring of a resistor-temperature curve characteristic of the temperature-dependent resistor is carried out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerate Gmbh
    Inventors: Kai-Uwe Bache, Thomas Nawrot, Ulrich Nehring, Andreas Ziemann
  • Patent number: 7467483
    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: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Appliances Limited
    Inventors: Allen James Guinibert, Russell Joseph Jackson, Hugh Griffith Johnson, Olaf Adrian Hojland Eskildsen, Geoffrey Simon Frazerhurst, Andy Alexander Hilgers, Daryl Leonard Hirst, Radu Gramada, Armando Morles Velandia
  • Patent number: 7448146
    Abstract: A cyclone condensing apparatus having a structure in which air of high-temperature and high-humidity sufficiently contacts cooling water, and condensed water is efficiently discharged to the outside, and a washing/drying machine having the cyclone condensing apparatus. The cyclone condensing apparatus includes an air inlet connected to the upper part of a casing having a conical shape along a tangential direction; an air outlet disposed along the central line of the casing, and a plurality of cooling water spray nozzles disposed along the circumferential direction of the casing. A spiral groove for guiding condensed water downwards is formed in the inner circumferential surface of the casing, and a water-collecting container for collecting the condensed water is connected to the lower end of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hwang Mook Cho, Hyung Gyoon Kim, Sang Yeon Pyo, Jae Ryong Park, Byoung Yull Yang
  • Publication number: 20080235984
    Abstract: A drying machine in which a rotary drum is stably supported is disclosed. The drying machine includes a cabinet; a drum rotatably installed in the cabinet for containing laundry to be dried; a first housing connected to the drum; a second housing connected to the first housing; first and second bearings respectively provided in the first and second housings; and a shaft supported by the first and second bearings, and rotatably connected to the drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Myoung Kee Yoon
  • Patent number: 7421804
    Abstract: A device for attaching an exhaust channel between a clothes dryer and a wall or floor vent, the device having a bracket connecting to the exhaust channel, includes a bracket having a dryer connector and an end connected to the exhaust channel. The bracket is sufficiently elongated to permit insertion of the dryer connector from the front of the dryer while permitting the opposing end thereof to be attached to the exhaust channel connected to the wall or floor vent. An opposing dryer bracket may be mounted on the back of the dryer to support the attachment of the bracket. Reinforcing this connection is a channel formed at the base of the dryer bracket. An edge of the bracket is placed within the dryer bracket thereby providing a secure connection. Additionally, the dryer bracket may contain a fastening device, which fastens and locks onto the vent bracket for further support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Inventor: Edward B. Hession
  • Patent number: 7383645
    Abstract: An exhaust dryer including an improved exhaust pipe assembly is provided. The dryer includes a body for holding laundry therein, a fan unit for blowing hot air produced by a heater onto the laundry to dry the laundry, and an exhaust pipe assembly connected to an exhaust hole at one side of the body for discharging air to an outside of a room. The exhaust pipe assembly may include a telescopic type straight pipe portion which is extendable, with a fastening means that secures a position of the exhaust pipe assembly relative to the room. An end cap may be provided at a discharge end of the exhaust pipe assembly to direct a flow of discharge air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Tae Sick Kong
  • Patent number: 7360323
    Abstract: Top cover assembly including a top cover mounted on a side plate of a cabinet, a fire plate between the side plate and the top cover, for preventing spreading of fire taking place in the cabinet to an exterior, and a cabinet holder for fastening the fire plate to the side plate, thereby enhancing a sense of beauty in view of design and preventing spreading of fire taking place in the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Soon Jo Lee, Seong Hai Jeong
  • Patent number: 7340848
    Abstract: The ambient air clothes dryer is an automated device providing axial flow of unheated ambient air through the dryer drum. The dryer may include different drum drive systems, timer and/or humidity detector controls, and a configuration utilizing a separate, portable fan for temporary, removable installation with the dryer housing to provide airflow through the drum. The ambient air dryer greatly reduces energy requirements for drying laundry when compared to conventional heated air dryers, and is quite effective in warm and/or dry climates. The ambient air dryer is portable and may be used indoors or outdoors. The device may be configured to use twelve-volt power from a motor vehicle for use in camping. When used indoors, the device may be placed with a heat source (heat register, etc.) to draw warm air through the drum while humidifying the air as it passes through damp laundry in the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Inventor: Larry W. Ford
  • Patent number: 7340847
    Abstract: A clothes drying machine, in which a connection structure between an air blowing case and a motor bracket is simplified so that the number of required components is reduced and assembly efficiency is improved, and the air blowing case is precisely connected to the motor bracket so that the generation of noise or vibration is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jin Doo Kim
  • Publication number: 20070240329
    Abstract: A manually operated clothes drying system including at least one outer container configured to hold a liquid, at least one inner container located within the at least one outer container and elevated above a floor of the at least one outer container, a plurality of openings disposed therethrough a wall forming at least one of the inner container, a gearbox system connected to the at least one inner container configured to rotate the at least one inner container about a center axis, a lid configured to cover a top opening of at least one of the at least one inner container and the at least one outer container, and means configured for continuous manual interaction to operate the gearbox system to result in rotation of the at least one inner container at a high rate of rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Inventor: Scot H. Weiss
  • Patent number: 7257905
    Abstract: A laundry drying machine includes a cabinet and a laundry holding drum rotatably supported within the cabinet for rotation. The drum includes a wall that is circumferential relative to the rotation and a drum hatch that is a section of the wall. The drum forms an enclosure together with at least one stationary end surface centred on the axis of rotation of the drum. A motor is connected to drive rotation of the drum and a fan provides a flow of air through the interior of the drum. The drum includes an outlet opening centred on the axis of rotation and an annular filter screen extending from the periphery of the drum outlet and rotating with the drum. The annular screen is connected along one circumferential edge to the drum. There is an annular sliding seal between the other annular edge of the screen and the outlet duct and an annular sliding seal between the outlet duct and the drum external to the annular filter screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Appliances Limited
    Inventors: Allen James Guinibert, Russell Joseph Jackson, Hugh Griffith Johnson, Geoffrey Simon Frazerhurst, Bruce Reginald Frank McGregor
  • Patent number: 7254970
    Abstract: The invention relates to a laundry treatment machine, more especially a washing machine or a laundry dryer, comprising a drivable drum which accommodates laundry and is rotatably mounted in a container integral with the housing, wherein the container is provided with an elastic sleeve, covering the transition from the front opening of the container to the housing opening, around the filler opening of the drum, and wherein a laundry rejector is attached in this transitional region in the region of the top dead center of the drum. For improvement purposes, a specially configured laundry rejector is provided in the region of the top dead center of the drum in conjunction with a receiving means in the sleeve in order to avoid laundry items from becoming damaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Buss, Gerd Maentele, Andreas Bollmann, Yvonne Sellmer