Bulkhead filter assembly

Claim 2

In a drying apparatus, the combination comprising: means defining a chamber for tumbling articles including a rotatable peripheral wall and a stationary bulkhead juxtapoSed the front end thereof defining an access into said chamber, said bulkhead having an opening therein along and extending outwardly from said access; duct means cooperable with said bulkhead adjacent to said opening for forming a cavity openly facing said chamber and accommodating airflow from said chamber; door means for selectively closing said access; means for producing an airflow through said chamber and into said duct means; a filter housing removably located in said cavity, said filter housing comprising a perforate portion generally conforming to the limits of said opening and disposed therein openly facing said chamber for effectively providing a perforate bulkhead portion permitting airflow into said cavity while preventing passage of articles from said chamber; and a filter means removably supported on said filter housing and disposed within said cavity in the path of air flowing from said chamber for removing lint and particles from the air, said filter housing and said filter means being removable from said cavity as an assembly to remove said perforate portion from the arcuate opening in said bulkhead and to remove said filter means from said cavity.

Claim 3

In drying apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said filter means is separable from said filter housing for cleaning of lint therefrom upon removal of said assembly from said cavity.

Claim 4

In a drying apparatus, the combination comprising: means defining a chamber for tumbling articles including a rotatable peripheral wall and stationary bulkhead juxtaposed the front end thereof defining an access into said chamber, said bulkhead having an opening therein along and extending outwardly from said access; duct means joining with said bulkhead along said access and opening for forming a cavity openly facing said chamber and accommodating airflow from said chamber; door means for selectively closing said access; means for producing an airflow through said chamber and into said duct means; a filter housing removably located in said cavity, said filter housing comprising a perforate portion generally conforming to the limits of said opening and disposed therein openly facing said chamber for effectively providing a perforate bulkhead portion permitting airflow into said cavity while preventing passage of articles from said chamber; and a filter means removably supported on said filter housing and disposed within said cavity in the path of air flowing from said chamber for removing lint and particles from the air, said filter housing and said filter means comprising a bulkhead filter assembly removable as a unit from said cavity, said filter means being removable from said filter housing for cleaning of lint therefrom upon removal of said bulkhead filter assembly from said drying apparatus.

Claim 5

In a drying apparatus, the combination comprising: means defining a chamber for tumbling articles including a rotatable peripheral wall and stationary bulkhead juxtaposed the front end thereof defining an access into said chamber, said bulkhead having an opening therein along and extending outwardly from said access; duct means joining with said bulkhead along said access and opening for forming a cavity openly facing said chamber and accommodating airflow from said chamber; door means for selectively closing said access; means for producing an airflow through said chamber and into said duct means; a filter housing removably located in said cavity, said filter housing comprising a perforate portion generally conforming to the limits of said opening and disposed therein openly facing said chamber for effectively providing a perforate bulkhead portion permitting airflow into said cavity while preventing passage of articles from said chamber; and a filter means removably supported on said filter housing and disposed within said cavity in the path of air flowing from said chamber for removing lint and particles from the air, said filter housing and said filter means comprising a bulkhead filter assembly removable as a unit from said cavity, said filter means being removable from said filter housing for cleaning of lint therefrom upon removal of said bulkhead filter assembly from said drying apparatus.

Claim 6

In a drying apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said perforate portion is arcuate and conforms generally to said opening to effectively form a continuation of said stationary bulkhead.

Claim 7

In a drying apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said filter means is connected to said filter housing in spaced juxtaposition to said perforate portion.

Claim 8

In a drying apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said duct means is connected to said bulkhead and defines a guideway for receiving and positioning said bulkhead filter assembly in an operative condition.

Claim 9

In a drying apparatus, the combination comprising: means defining a chamber for tumbling articles including a rotatable peripheral wall and stationary bulkhead juxtaposed the front end thereof defining an access into said chamber, said bulkhead having an arcuate opening therein generally below said access and extending generally radially from said access to adjacent said peripheral wall; duct means connected to said bulkhead along the boundary of said arcuate opening and cooperable with said bulkhead for forming a cavity openly facing said chamber and accommodating airflow from said chamber; door means for selectively closing said access; means for producing an airflow throUgh said chamber and into said duct means; a filter housing removably located in said cavity, said filter housing comprising a perforate portion generally conforming to the limits of said arcuate opening and disposed therein openly facing said chamber for contact by the tumbling articles in said chamber and for effectively providing a perforate bulkhead portion permitting airflow into said cavity while preventing passage of articles from said chamber; and a filter means within said cavity removably connected to said filter housing in spaced juxtaposition to said perforate portion and disposed in the path of air flowing from said chamber for removing lint and particles from the air, said filter housing and said filter means comprising a bulkhead filter assembly removable as a unit from said cavity, said filter means being separable from said filter housing for cleaning of lint therefrom upon removal of said bulkhead filter assembly from said drying apparatus.

Claim 10

In a drying apparatus, the combination comprising: means defining a chamber for tumbling articles including a rotatable peripheral wall and stationary bulkhead juxtaposed the front end thereof defining an access into said chamber, said bulkhead having an arcuate opening therein generally below said access and extending generally radially from said access to adjacent said peripheral wall; duct means connected to said bulkhead along the boundary of said arcuate opening and cooperable with said bulkhead for forming a cavity openly facing said chamber and accommodating airflow from said chamber; door means for selectively closing said access; means for producing an airflow throUgh said chamber and into said duct means; a filter housing removably located in said cavity, said filter housing comprising a perforate portion generally conforming to the limits of said arcuate opening and disposed therein openly facing said chamber for contact by the tumbling articles in said chamber and for effectively providing a perforate bulkhead portion permitting airflow into said cavity while preventing passage of articles from said chamber; and a filter means within said cavity removably connected to said filter housing in spaced juxtaposition to said perforate portion and disposed in the path of air flowing from said chamber for removing lint and particles from the air, said filter housing and said filter means comprising a bulkhead filter assembly removable as a unit from said cavity, said filter means being separable from said filter housing for cleaning of lint therefrom upon removal of said bulkhead filter assembly from said drying apparatus.

Claim 11

In a drying apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said perforate portion and said filter means are generally parallel to each other and wherein said filter housing includes an imperforate portion extending into said duct means to support a filter means substantially larger than said perforate portion.

Claim 12

In a drying apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said duct means defines a guideway for receiving and positioning said bulkhead filter assembly in an operative condition.

Claim 13

In a drying apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said filter housing includes handle means effectively disposed within said access for manually sliding said filter assembly out of said guideway into said access for removal from said drying apparatus.

Claim 14

In a drying apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said filter housing includes a transverse wall extending generally parallel to said bulkhead and defining said perforate portion openly facing said drying chamber, said filter housing further including a peripheral flange extending rearwardly from said transverse wall, said filter means including a peripheral frame generally mating with the peripheral flange of said filter housing and further including a lint filter screen supported by said frame for filtering particles from the air flowing through said perforate portion, the peripheral flange of said filter housing and peripheral frame of said filter means including cooperable means for detachably connecting said filter means and said filter housing together as a unit.

Claim 15

A bulkhead filter assembly as defined in claim 11 wherein said perforate portion is arcuate along said access and extends radially therefrom and effectively forms a continuation of said stationary bulkhead when said filter assembly is in its operative position.

Claim 16

A bulkhead filter assembly as defined in claim 11 wherein said filter means is disposed generally parallel to said perforate portion and extends radially beyond the limits of said perforate portion to form a substantially larger filter screen than said perforate portion.