Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The present application is a divisional application
of patent application Serial No. 253,979 filed June 3, 197ff.
The present invention relates to an exhaust system for
a laundry dryer. Conventional exhaust systems of the type described
require piercing of an outside wall and providing an outside vent
connected to the dryer by means of a flexible hose. However, in a
plurality of buildings, especially where the premises are rented,
it is forbidden to make alterations to the walls of the building
and/or to modify the window frames, and yet there is no provision
for discharging the flow of the hot and humid air from a dryer to
the outside. Therefore, the occupants cannot avail themselves of
the advantages of a laundry dryer.
The object of the invention is to provide an exhaust
system of the type described, which is designed to obviate the
above-noted disadvantage in that it makes use of any window open-
ing to serve as an outlet for the dryer exhaust air, while at the
same time preventing cold air from entering the premises, especially
during winter-time.
- Another object of the invention resides in the
provision of a system of the character described in which a window
; insert plate assembly fits within a window opening and makes sealing
contact herewith, said assembly being provided with an exhaust
outlet and with means to connect a flexible hose to said outlet.
The exhaust outlet is provided with closure means to prevent entry
of outside air when the dryer is not in use.
~ In accordance with another object of the invention,
;` the closure means are automatically operable to close the opening
whenever the dryer is stopped, or when the hose is disconnected.
In accordance with another object of the invention, an
insert is also provided to fit the interior window of a double window
unit.
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In accordance with yet another object of the invention,
a quick disconnect coupling means is provided between the hose and the
laundry dryer and such as to fit the exhaust tube of practically any
type of laundry dryer.
In accordance with another object of the invention, the
window plate inserts are adjustable in length to fit various widths
of window openings.
The foregoing and other objects of the present invention
will become more apparent during the following disclosure and by
referring to the drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a vertical section of a double window unit
showing the window insert plate assemblies in accordance with the
:: invention inserted therein and showing in elevation a flexible hose
connected to a laundry dryer, shown in dot and dash lines;
Figure 2 is a top plan view of the exterior insert plate
assembly;
. Figure 3 is an elevation of the assembly of Figure 2;
- Figures 4 and 5 are cross-sections of the two sections of
.
the assembly of Figure 3 and taken along line 4-4 and 5-5, respectively;
Figure 6 is a top plan view of the interior window insert
plate assembly used for the interior window of a double window unit;
Figure 7 is an elevation of the assembly of Figure 6;
Figure 8 is a cross-section taken along line 8-8 of Figure 7;
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Figure 9 is a top plan view of the exhaust outlet in
accordance with the invention and incorporating automatically-operated
:.! closure means;
-.l Figure 10 is an elevation from the inside face of the outlet
~ of Figure 9;
:, Figure 11 is a side elevation of the outlet of Figure 9;
Figure 12 is a longitudinal section of the outlet of Figure
~ 9 and taken along line 12-12 of Figure 9, the flap assembly being absent;
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Figure 13 is an exploded elevation of the flap assembly
used in the outlet of Figure 9;
Figure 13a is an end view of the flap assembly of Figure
13;
Figure 14 is an elevation, partially broken, of the
assembly of the flexible hose with its coupling means at both ends
thereof for connecting to the exhaust outlet and to the outlet of the
laundry dryer;
Figure 15 is an elevation of the inner end of the hose
assembly of Figure 14;
Figure 16 is an end elevation of an elbow coupling in
accordance with a second manner of connecting the flexible hose to -
Figure 17 is a side elevation of the elbow of Figure 16;
Figure 18 is a partial section taken along line 18-18 of
Figure 16;
Figure 19 is an end elevation of another embodiment of
an elbow coupling;
~ Figure 20 is a side elevation of the elbow of Figure 19;
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- Figure 21 is an elevation of the inlet end of the flexible
hose with coupling means to fit the elbow of Fig. 16 or of Fig. 19; 3
Figure 22 is a top view of still another embodiment of the
telescopic inner window insert plate assembly;
Figure 23 is an elevation of the embodiment of Figure 22
Figures24 and 25 are cross-sections taken along lines
24-24 and 25-25, respectively, of Figure 23, and
Figure 26 is a partial plan section taken along line 26-
26 of Figure 23.
-` In the drawings, like reference characters indicate like
elements throughout.
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~ 30 ~igure 1 shows the general assembly of the invention
--~ wherein a laundry dryer 4 has its hot and humid air exhaust connected
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by means of a removable coupling assembly 80 to a flexible how 3, the
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the other end of which, indicated at 33, is removably connected
to an opening made in an outer window insert plate assembly 1
for the exhaust to the exterior of the building of the hot and
humid air from the laundry dryer 4.
Exterior window plate assembly 1 is fitted within
the side channels of a standard aluminum window frame 5 with the
guillotine type lower window sash 6 in sealing contact with the
top edge of plate assembly 1, so as to prevent entrance of outside
air into the room where the laundry dryer is located.
In the case of a double window construction as shown,
an inner window plate assembly 2 is fitted within the inner window
opening in the side channels 7 thereof with the guillotine type
lower window sash 3 in sealing contact with the top edge of assembly
2. This plate assembly 2 defines an opening for the passage of
flexible hose 3.
Figure 1 also shows how the outer nipple 33 defining
the outer end of hose 3 is provided with an outwardly protruding
pin 35 removably engageable with an L-shaped slot 34 of the sleeve
of the exhaust opening of plate assembly 1. The construction of
:
the latter is shown in Figures 2 to 5. It consists of two tele-
scopically-engaged sections 9 and 10 to fit window openings of
different widths. The two sections each consist of a rectangular
flat plate, preferably made of transparent material, such as clesr
synthetic resin. Section 9 has inturned L-shaped guide rails 12
at the top and bottom longitudinal edges adapted to fit over the
outturned longitudinally extending L-shaped guide rails 13,
provided at the top and bottom longitudinal edges of section 10.
Thus, the two sections 9 and 10 can slide relative to each other
along their guide rails 12 and 13. The top outer corners of sections
~, 30 9 and 10 are provided with an outwardly protruding metal pin 11,
adapted to fit within a hole of the side channels of the aluminum -
window frame 5 to prevent removal of the plate assembly 1. Also,
the two sections 9 and 10 can be locked in position within the
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window opening by means of a latch system, shown in Figure 3,
and comprising a latch lever 18 pivoted to ears 15 secured to
section 10 and having a pawl 17 engageable with any of the
teeth of rack 17 formed at the bottom of the guide rail 12 of
section 10. A handle 14 protruding from the inside face of
section 9 facilitates the extension movement of the plate assembly
1. Section 9 has a circular opening 39 serving as the exhaust
outlet.
Figures 6 to 8 show the inner window plate assembly,
which is also extendable to fit inner window openings of different
widths. It has a generally rectangular shape and is composed of
` two rigid plate sections, namely: a lower plate section 19 and a
top plate section 20 sealed together at their longitudinal junction
by means of a sealing strip 21, of H-shaped cross-section, so as to
provide flanges overlying the surfaces of the two sections 19 and 20
with an intervening web contacting the longitudinal edges of said
sections. -~
Sections 19 and 20 are provided with registering semi-
circular notches at their contacting edges to form the circular
- 20 opening 22 for the passage of flexible hose 3 when the two sections
.
19 and 20 are assembled. The top edge of the upper section 20 and
the lower edge of the lower section 19 are lined with sealing
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strips 26 to make sealing contact with the bottom edge of the window
sash and the sill of the inner ~Jindow opening, respectively.
The plate assembly 2 is extensible to fit inner window
opening of different widths. For this purpose, telescopic top and
bottom sections 24 and 25, respectively, have each a tongue 23 -
telescopically engaged in a groove at the corresponding end of
upper and lower sections 20 and 19, respectively.
. . .... .
The outlet opening 29 of the outer window plate assembly
' 1, illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, is fitted with a closure means to
close the outlet of the flexible hose 3, or the interior of the room
when the laundry dryer is not use.
Figures 9 to 13a show an embodiment of the closure means
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fo~ the outer end of the flexible hose and mounted in the outer
window plate assembly. The flexible hose connecting sleeve 63
is integrally formed with, or is secured to, section 9 of the outer
window plate assembly 1, as shown in Figure 12, and is provided
at its inner end with the L-shaped bayonnet slot 64 (see Figure
11) for receiving the pin 35 of the outer end of the hose 3.
A pair of ears 65, 66 are integrally formed with
section 9 on the outside thereof and have hinged holes in vertical
alignment to receive a hinge rod 74. A pair of semi-circular
flaps 68, 69 are provided with perforated ears 70, 71, 72, 73
along their straight edges for the insertion of hinge rod 74.
A coil spring 76 is wound around hinge rod 74, while its outer
straight ends bear against the respective flaps 68, 69 to resiliently
maintain the same in closed position against the marginal edge form-
ed around the opening 75 in communication with sleeve 63.
The spring 76 is calculated to exert a pressure sufficient
~ to close the flaps when no air pressure is in tube 63 but to allow
- opening of the flaps under the air pressure exerted by the ventilat-
ing system of the clothes dryer 4.
- 20 A top horizontal guide 77, of L-shaped cross-section,
and a lower horizontal guide 78, also of L-shaped cross-section,
are integrally formed on the outside of section 9 above and below
the tube 63 and the ears 65 and 66, respectively.
A cowl 79 is slidably fitted within the guide 77 and
.~ 78 to extend opposite the discharge opening 75 of tube 63. This
cowl is open at its two ends so that the hot and humid iar will
- discharge sideways, being deflected by the inclined flaps 68 and
69. Cowl 79 can be easily removed whenever desired, so as, for
`~ instance, to facilitate access to the flap mechanism for maintenance
purposes or when no protruding part is allowed on the outside of
the window. Cowl 79 protects the opening against rain and snow.
-~ As shown in Figures 14 and 15, the inner or dryer end
; of flexible hose 3 is inserted over a nipple 80 and secured thereto
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by a surrounding band 81. Nipple 80 is formed at its inner end
with a collar having a plurality, for instance four, radially
outwardly protruding equally angularly spaced ears 84, each carry-
ing a permanent magnet 82 flush with the outside face of ear 84,
so as to magnetically adhere to the steel wall portion surrounding
the dryer exhaust outlet for the humid and hot air to make a
communication with the hose 3.
When the hose 3 is detached from the laundry dryer, soft
iron discs 85 are positioned against the permanent magnets 82 to
prevent demagnetization of the magnets 82.
- The coupling means of Figures 16, 17, 18 and 21 is
used with dryers having an interior exhaust tube, or when any other
method of clamping the hose to the dryer is not possible from the
outside. The coupling consists of an elbow fitting having an inner ~ -
tubular part 86 provided with an interior groove 87 holding an 0-
ring 88 locked in position by the two stop rings 89 and 90. The
part 86 is fitted over the interior exhaust tube of the dryer and
` the 0-ring 88 forms an air-proof connection therewith. The elbow
91,92 is held firmly. The outer end of elbow part 92 has a pin ~-
95 protruding from the side face thereof engageable with the L-
shaped slot 94 (see Fig. 21) formed at the end of the sleeve
93 fitted within the inner end of flexible hose 3 and held thereon
by moans of clamping collar 81.
Figures 19 and 20 show another type of elbow connection.
A The inner end of the elbow 91,92 has a short neck 97 provided with
a flange 96, in tùrn having a raised annular face 98 lined with a
foam rubber ~ng 99 serving as a sealing gasket, which is applied
., .
against the periphery of the laundry dryer exhaust opening.
Flange 96 has a plurality of bayonnet type holes formed --
~, 30 by a restricted portion 100 and a larger portion 101. These are
equally spaced around flange 96. The flange 96 can thus be attached
to -che dryer by loosening the normal two Parker screws of the dryer
exhaust grille ring and passing the screw heads through the larger
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hole portion 101 and then by turning the flange about 10 degrees
to the right until screws enter the restricted hole portions 100.
The screws are then tightened to hold the flange in place.
With this arrangement, due to the presence of a
plurality of bayonnet holes 100, 101, the elbow can be oriented
at 45 degree-intervals. The outer end of elbow 92 has a pin 95
to form a quick disconnect with the inner end of hose 3 by engag-
ing L-shaped slot 94 (see Fig. 21).
The inner window plate assembly 2 of Figures 6 to 8
can be replaced, if desired, by the telescopic inner window
plate assembly (shown in Figures 22 to 26) and preferably made of
clear plastic material. This assembly is similar to the outer
window plate assembly 1, illustrated in Figures 2 to 5 inclusive.
It comprises telescopically-engaged rectangular plate sections
102 and 103 to fit window openings of different widths. Section
102 has inturned guide rails 109 at its top and bottom longitudinal
edges slidably engaging outwardly directed guide rails 108 at the
~ top and bottom longitudinal edges of section 103. The latter has
; a handle 105 to facilitate extension and retraction of the plate
assembly.
Section 102 has a notch 106 through which extends the
flexible hose 3. This notch 106 has a rounded bottom end and
opens in full diameter at the top edge of section 102, and once
the hose has been inserted in notch 106, a plate 104 is slidably
inserted within vertical guide grooves 107 of section 102. Plate
104 has a semi-circular inner edge completing the circular opening
~ in notch 10~ through which the hose 3 extends.
i All the window insert plate assemblies and window open-
ing closure means in accordance with the invention are preferably
of clear plastic material, so as not to diminish the light entering
the room in which the dryer is located and also for esthetic reasons
not to disfigure the window as seen from the outside.
The window insert plate assemblies of the invention can
also fit windows in which the window sashes are horizontally slidable.
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The window opening closure means of Figures 9 to 13a
can be directly installed in an opening cut directly in the glass
pane of a window sash of the pivotable type.
The exhaust system can be used in association with
other appliances requiring outside venting, such as a kitchen
~ hood.
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