Whirlpool Corporation

Karl Jautakis

Keith E Carr

James M Marzonie

Reinhold Alvin Drews

Frank E Miller

Gary D Golichowski

Keith E Foco

Mark E Kuyper

A flexible exhaust ducting system is provided for a dryer wherein the dryer has more than one opening through its cabinet panels for an exhaust outlet to accommodate differing installation configurations. The ducting system includes a flexible metal tubing which is radially deformed into contact with rigid metallic end pipes to provide a trouble free joint. The end pipes are secured to the cabinet bottom panel at an end connected to the blower and to the panel through which the conduit exits the cabinet at the other end to prevent accidental dislodging of the conduit.

Clothes dryer with flexible exhaust duct system

Dryer outlet screen or the like

A moisture sensor assembly is provided for an automatic dryer wherein sensor strips are secured directly to the drum outlet grill for engagement by the materials being dried. The sensor strips pivotally engage at one end with the grill and have an interference friction fit at an opposite end so that the strips are held in place without additional fasteners. Electrical connection of the sensor strips occurs in a protected zone, physically separated from the moist exhaust air stream.

Dryer outlet grill with sensor

A heater assembly and mounting arrangement are provided for a clothes dryer in which a heater box carrying the heater element is positioned within the dryer cabinet and is accessible for servicing and replacement from the front of the dryer. A rear end of the heater box slip fits into an air conduit which channels heated air into the dryer drum. The heater box is secured by a single bracket near the front of the dryer. The heater element is separately removable from the heater box, being slidably mounted between opposed grooves in the box and secured by a single threaded fastener.

Heater assembly and mounting arrangement for a dryer

An electrically heated dryer for articles comprises a drying container and an air duct leading thereto for directing air in a stream through the duct and into the container. An electric resistance heating element is provided in the duct and comprises an expanded resistance metal sheet of separated strands and connecting bridges with the strands at an angle to the sheet and generally parallel to each other. The element is serpentively arranged in the duct in successive substantially planar reaches spanning the duct with the strand surfaces of the upstream reaches arranged substantially parallel to the direction of air flow for streamline wiping action thereof by the air stream. A planar reach downstream of said upstream reaches is arranged with its strand surfaces substantially non-parallel to the direction of air stream flow to aid in mixing the heated air prior to delivery into the container.

Electrically heated dryer

A dryer for articles such as a clothes dryer having a container for the articles and an air duct leading to the container for directing an air stream into the container for contact with the articles therein. Located in the duct is a heater for heating the air stream before it enters the container and an air mixing baffle in the duct extending at an angle in the direction of the air stream flow and partially into the stream for creating an even temperature turbulence in the air stream and to break up any hot air stratification. The duct is provided with an air inlet opening for supplying ambient air that mixes with the heated air as a result of the turbulence created by the mixing baffle thereby forming an even, reduced temperature of the air stream. The ambient air opening is located generally along the flow path between the baffle and the outlet from the duct. The baffle and ambient air inlet are located downstream of the heater and the baffle is downstream of the heater and upstream of the ambient air inlet and outlet from duct.

Growing community of inventors

Chikaming Township, Berrien County, MI, United States of America

Karl Jautakis