Heater assembly for dryer

Claim 2

An electric heating system for a fabric drying apparatus, the combination comprising: an elongated generally cylindrical housing comprising first and second wall portions connected together and open at both ends for airflow therethrough; a plurality of electrically insulated heater coil support members attached to each of said wall portions and arranged in rows along opposite sides in each of said wall portions in spaced-apart relationship; a terminal means connected to each of said wall portions and electrically insulated therefrom; an elongated coil of resistance wire comprising a heating coil and connected on one end to a first terminal means and extending to and supported in a first plane by the support members attached to said first wall portion and then extending to and supported in a second plane generally parallel to said first plane by the support members attached to said second wall portion and finally extending to and connected with a second of said terminal means for openly supporting said heating coil within said housing spaced inwardly from said wall portions to heat air flowing therethrough; and means for effecting airflow through said housing.

Claim 3

An electric heating system as defined in claim 1 wherein said coil support members are consecutively staggered between the opposite rows in each wall portion and connected thereto for supporting said heating coil in a sinuous pattern in each of said planes.

Claim 4

An electric heating system as defined in claim 1 wherein the longitudinal axis of said housing is generally horizontal and wherein the support members attached to said first wall portion are positioned alternately on opposite sides thereof to support a portion of said heating coil on a sinuous path in said first plane within said first wall portion generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said housing and further wherein other support members are similarly attached to said second wall portion to support another portion of said heating coil on a sinuous path in said second plane within said second wall portion generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said housing.

Claim 5

An electric heating system as defined in claim 3 wherein the planes of said heating coil portions are generally horizontal and parallel and wherein an intermediate loop portion of said heating coil connects the two coil portions and is supported by an additional support member.

Claim 6

An electric heating system for a fabric drying apparatus, the combination comprising: an elongated generally cylindrical housing comprising first and second generally similar mating wall portions connected together as a unit and open at both ends for airflow therethrough; a plurality of electrically insulated heater coil support members attached to each of said mating wall portions and arranged in rows along opposite sides in each of said wall portions in predetermined spaced-apart relationship; a terminal means connected to each of said wall portions and electrically insulated therefrom; an elongated coil of resistance wire spaced inwardly from said wall portions and comprising an electric heating coil, a first portion of said heating coil connected to and extending from said first terminal means to and supported in a first generally horizontal plane by a plurality of sequentially positioned support members on said first wall portion, a second portion of said heating coil connected to and extending from said second terminal means to and supported in a second generally horizontal plane by a plurality of sequentially positioned support members on said second wall portion, a connecting portion of said elongated heating coil extending between said first and second wall portions to form a continuous elongated heating coil extending from said firSt terminal means to said second terminal means and openly supported within said housing for heating of airflow therethrough; and means for effecting airflow through said housing.

Claim 7

An electric heating system for a fabric drying apparatus, the combination comprising: an elongated generally cylindrical housing comprising first and second generally similar mating wall portions connected together as a unit and open at both ends for airflow therethrough; a plurality of electrically insulated heater coil support members attached to each of said mating wall portions and arranged in rows along opposite sides in each of said wall portions in predetermined spaced-apart relationship; a terminal means connected to each of said wall portions and electrically insulated therefrom; an elongated coil of resistance wire spaced inwardly from said wall portions and comprising an electric heating coil, a first portion of said heating coil connected to and extending from said first terminal means to and supported in a first generally horizontal plane by a plurality of sequentially positioned support members on said first wall portion, a second portion of said heating coil connected to and extending from said second terminal means to and supported in a second generally horizontal plane by a plurality of sequentially positioned support members on said second wall portion, a connecting portion of said elongated heating coil extending between said first and second wall portions to form a continuous elongated heating coil extending from said firSt terminal means to said second terminal means and openly supported within said housing for heating of airflow therethrough; and means for effecting airflow through said housing.

Claim 8

An electric heating system as defined in claim 5 wherein the first portion of said heating coil is supported on a sinuous path by sequentially spaced and staggered support members in said first plane within said first wall portion and wherein the second portion of said heating coil is supported on a sinuous path by sequentially spaced and staggered support members within said second wall portion in said second plane generally parallel to and spaced from said first plane.

Claim 9

An electric heating system as defined in claim 6 wherein said connecting portion of the elongated coil comprises a loop extending between said first and second planes and supported by an individual support member fixed to one of the wall portions intermediate the two planes.