Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The present invention relates to environmental systems and,
more particularly, to new and improved structures and systems
whereby, through ion generation, acidic conditions, inter-article
friction and wear, and particulate-entrainment are all minimized,
particularly as concerns laundry dryers; likewise, ambient air
quality inside and outside of buildings, et cetera, is preserved if
not enhanced.
While the present invention is not restricted to
considerations as to improvements in the operations of home and
commercial laundry dryers, yet a discussion of these will be
helpful in suggesting broad ranges of application of the invention.
As to dryers of the type described, these of course are
intended to received washed and rinsed laundry coming from a
washing machine. Additives such as soaps, detergents, softeners,
and bleaches are used in washers, and traces of these ingredients
are contained in the moisture of articles introduced into a
receiving dryer. Such additives almost universally are acidic in
nature and/or cause a cling of the laundry items as these are
tumbled in the dryer. Static cling is frequently encountered as
one retrieves articles from the dryer; frequently, anti-static
strips are included in the dryer to reduce such static cling. The
inter-clothes' friction and acidic condition in normal dryers also
~-a~e e~ce~ f~iction between the clothes being dried, producing an
abundance of lint production and accumulations, and filter units
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such as the one shown in the inventors' own U. S. Patent, No.
5,236,478, issued August 17, 1993 and fully incorporated herein by
way of reference, indicate a means for drastically reducing the
entrainment of lint in conduit venting the dryer to the exterior.
Even in the best of cases, there will be some accumulations of lint
at the underside of the filter tray used in such filter unit.
It has occurred to the inventors that if conditions in the
dryer were enhanced to drastically reduce the production of lint in
the first instance, then systems for venting dryers would operate
even more effectively. The present invention attacks the problem
in a particular manner so as to produce two effects: a reduction in
the acidity present in the dryer, and a reduction in the "cling" or
static electricity attraction and resultant friction between
articles in the dryer as well as between such articles and the
dryer walls. No other patent or other art is known which is
believed to be directly in point as to the invention at issue.
In accordance with the above objectives, the invention
utilized an ion generator, with air molecules and other matter
passing through the ion generator being negatively charged, such
air stream being introduced into a dryer, for example, to
neutralized the acidic hydrogen ions present in the dryer, thus
drastically reducing the acidity in the dryer and thereby causing
the clothing or other articles, as they are dried,
to dry free of static electricity. The tumbling of the laundry
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items progress more efficiently, with less static cling, and hence
with less high-friction rubbing between such articles. The results
in a pronounced reduction of lint, which is expelled in any event
downstream to a lint trap receiving the exhaust of the dryer. The
S result is the production of much less lint to entrap, thus
permitting the lint trap to operate much longer without cleaning
and also preserving the porosity and integrity of the filter tray
of the lint trap unit. The structures and system as hereinafter
described utilize the above principles to advantage, as will
hereinafter be point out. The essential feature is the generation
of negative ions, through the production of an electrostatic field
in the ion chamber, whereby to direct an ionized air stream into
the dryer to neutralize the hydrogen ions and positively charged
static electric electricity within the dryer as to the laundry
items contained therein.
The invention may best be understood by reference to the
following description, taken in conjunction with the following
drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of a lint
trap and dryer combination incorporating the ion generating
structure contemplated in the invention.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged, longitudinal, vertical section, taken
along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1, illustrating the ion generation
structure.
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Fig. 3 is a rear elevation in reduced scale of the structure
shown in Figs 1 and 2.
Fig. 4 is a reverse side elevation, broken away, and showing
the air-flow pattern within the ion generation structure.
Fig 5 represents a diagrammatic flow sheet of the invention.
Fig. 6 is an electrical schematic representative of a circuit
that may be employed to negatively charge the transverse wire or
other object of the ion generator.
In Fig. 1 filter unit 10 is provided cabinet 11. Cabinet 11 is
seen to have top 12, bottom 13, opposite sides 14 and 15, and front
and rear panels 16 and 17. Rear panel 17 is provided with inlet
and outlet ports 18 and 19, preferably located as shown. The
interior of the cabinet is fitted with fixed slide rails formed by
channel lengths 20, 21 and 22. These channel lengths receive
filter tray 23 which is formed by frame 24, the latter being
provided with front, drawer-type panel having handle pull 26. The
filter tray 23 is provided with mesh 27 tautly secured thereto.
Front panel 16 is provided with recessed frame 28 that interiorly
slidably receives door 29 that covers access opening 30 of the
front panel. Door 29 will preferably include lift handle 29A to
accommodate selective lifting of the door, whereby to provide
access to the interior of cabinet 11 for removal of lint
accumulations.
The filter unit 10 is provided for a clothes dryer 31, for
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example, and is connected thereto in a manner hereinafter
described. Dryer 31 will be provided with the customary hinged
door 32.
Located proximate the filter unit 10 is an ionization unit 33.
In Fig. 1 unit 33 sits atop the filter unit 10 and is provided with
an AC plug 34 attached to electric cord 35.
Ionization unit 33, see Fig. 2, has housing 34 provided with
interior partitions 35 and 36. Housing lower panel 37 is provided
with upstanding, internally threaded bosses 38 and 39 which receive
mounting screws 40 and 41 for securing electric motor 42 in place
as shown. Motor 42 includes shaft 43 that is mounted to and drives
squirrel cage fan 44. The housing 34 has an open front face 45
that is supplied and screen or vent 47A and filter securement
structure 46 releasably securing air-passage filter 47 in place.
Air admittance passageways 48 and 49 cooperating with motor 42 and
leading to the squirrel cage blower fan 44 are indicated as shown.
An electrical power pack 50 is provided, the same being provided
with electrical input plug connector 34B accommodating cord 35.
The same can be housed beneath partition 36. Ionization chamber 52
has opening 53 and is provided with opposite insulator mounts 54
for mounting transverse ionization wire 55. An outlet port 56
communicates with opening 53. Where desired, vent slots 33A may be
included for the purpose of directing a portion of the ionized
output air to a room enclosure, by way of example.
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Fig. 3 illustrates that room air intake at A, see also Fig. 2,
proceeds through filter 47 into the ionization unit 33. Conduit 57
is attached to outlet port 56 of the ionization unit and attaches
to the customary dryer intake vent or inlet port provided thereat,
at 58, in Fig. 3. The outlet of the dryer at 59 is provided with
conduit 60 leading to inlet port 18 of the filter or filter trap
unit 10. Outlet port 19 of filter unit 10 can be provided with
duct work 61 leading either to a building exhaust vent, or even to
a room interior as indicated.
Fig. 4 illustrates the operation and air-flow relative to the
ionization unit 33. Thus, intake air at A passes through filter 47
and interiorly flows in the direction of the arrows into the
interior of the squirrel cage fan at 44, whereat it is expelled
under pressure into the ionization chamber 52. The electrostatic
electrical field set up by ionization wire 55 charges air-flow
constituents negatively, which air flow proceeds along arrows B to
enter the dryer. Such ionized airflow acts to neutralize clothes's
static electricity within the dryer and neutralizes acidic
conditions therein, as occasion by the usual residual detergents
and additives left in the rinse cycle of the clothes, whereby to
reduce inter-article friction among and between fabric articles in
the dryer, thereby reducing the production of lint therein. Thus,
the ionization produced by the unit herein, effectively de-ionizes
normally occurring ions within the dryer so as to produce, over-
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all, a de-ionizing effect as to the electrostatic condition both
within the dryer and air expelled therefrom. Lint expelled from
the exhaust port of the dryer is dramatically reduced, and lint
trap accumulations are correspondingly reduced, particularly at the
area of the filter screen. The resultant exhaust air passing
through the screen is virtually lint free, and allows for clean air
flow either out of the building, hence enhancing the environment,
or provides for clean and de-ionized airflow into a room area.
Fig. 5 is a block-diagram flow chart illustrating the
operation of the over-all system. Ambient air enters through the
screen 47A, where employed, and through filter 47 into the air
blower comprising squirrel cage fan 44. From there the air passes
through the electrostatic field generated by the ionization chamber
at 53. The latter is powered by power pack 50, including step-up
transformer 51. Once air passes through the ion chamber it enters
into the laundry or clothes dryer 31, to be expelled therefrom into
lint trap unit 10. From that point, clean de-ionized air enters a
room area or is exhausted to the exterior.
Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of a representative electrical
circuit that can be used for the ionization function. Electrical
plug connector 34B may be provided with protective fuse circuit and
be provided with an on-off switch 34A. Step-up transformer 51 is
indicated, plus an indication that a neon indicator light 62,
indicating present operation of the system, may be incorporated,
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see also Fig. 1. Bridge rectifier at 64 converts the transformer
output boltage to pulsating DC, which can be filtered by a suitable
L-C, i.e. inductance-capacitance, filter circuit such that a
desirably smoothed output voltage is provided, the negative side
being directly connected to the ionization wire 55, and the
positive side remaining floating. A series of electrical leads L
connect the circuit elements together.
The ultimate result is an ionization unit that serves to de-
ionize the interior condition of the dryer, whereby to reduce
internal friction in the dryer, reduce "cling" between laundry
items and also between such items and the interior walls of the
dryer, neutralize acidic conditions of moisture in the dryer, and
otherwise dramatically reduce lint production. This action
likewise aids in increasing the effectiveness of the lint trap unit
10 and its operation, providing an essentially lint-free air flow
from the system.
While particular embodiments have been shown and described, it
will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes
and modification may be made and, therefore, the aim in the
appended claims is to cover all such changes as fall within the
true spirit and scope of the invention.
