US4086707A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Clothes dryer machine and method
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1976-11-01
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Granted: 1978-05-02
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Expires: 1996-11-01
Abstract
Abstract An improved automatic clothes dryer and method of drying clothes wherein the clothes dryer has a rotatable drum through which heated air is circulated by a blower wheel driven at the full speed of a single speed electric motor. There is a thermostatic switch for sensing the temperature of air exiting the drum and through appropriate controls when a selected predetermined temperature is reached both the temperature at which the air is heated and the volume of air flowing through the drum are reduced. The improved clothes dryer and method reduces the amount of energy utilized by the dryer yet good clothes drying characteristics are accomplished.
Inventors
- 👤 John Bochan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 09:02
CPC Classifications
D; D06; D06F; D06F58/00; D06F58/32; D06F58/34; D06F58/48; D06F2103/00; D06F2103/02; D06F2103/08; D06F2103/28; D06F2103/32; D06F2103/36; D06F2105/00; D06F2105/16; D06F2105/24; D06F2105/28; D06F2105/30; D06F2105/46; D06F58/02; D06F58/36; D06F58/38; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B40/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
206 words
In an automatic clothes dryer having a rotatable drum, means to heat air, and means driven by a single speed electric motor for circulating the heated air through the drum, the improvement comprising: (a) temperature sensing means for sensing a predetermined selected temperature of the air exiting the drum, (b) means to reduce the temperature at which the air is heated upon reaching the selected predetermined temperature, (c) a cylindrical clutch drum connected to the electric motor shaft for rotation in unison therewith, said clutch drum having spaced openings around the periphery of the drum, (d) a governor slip shoe and blower wheel assembly rotatably secured to the motor shaft for relative movement therewith, said governor slip shoe being arranged to engage the clutch drum periphery with variable frictional force, (e) a plunger assembly secured to the governor slip shoe and blower assembly and rotatable in unison therewith, said plunger being operable to engage the clutch drum through the openings around the periphery and be withdrawn from engagement with the clutch drum, and (f) means responsive to the selected predetermined temperature to withdraw the plunger from the openings whereby the governor slip shoe and blower wheel assembly will rotate at less speed than the clutch drum.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
206 words
In an automatic clothes dryer having a rotatable drum, means to heat air, and means driven by a single speed electric motor for circulating the heated air through the drum, the improvement comprising: (a) temperature sensing means for sensing a predetermined selected temperature of the air exiting the drum, (b) means to reduce the temperature at which the air is heated upon reaching the selected predetermined temperature, (c) a cylindrical clutch drum connected to the electric motor shaft for rotation in unison therewith, said clutch drum having spaced openings around the periphery of the drum, (d) a governor slip shoe and blower wheel assembly rotatably secured to the motor shaft for relative movement therewith, said governor slip shoe being arranged to engage the clutch drum periphery with variable frictional force, (e) a plunger assembly secured to the governor slip shoe and blower assembly and rotatable in unison therewith, said plunger being operable to engage the clutch drum through the openings around the periphery and be withdrawn from engagement with the clutch drum, and (f) means responsive to the selected predetermined temperature to withdraw the plunger from the openings whereby the governor slip shoe and blower wheel assembly will rotate at less speed than the clutch drum.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
In the automatic clothes dryer of claim 1 wherein the plunger assembly includes the plunger being spring biased to an extended first position to engage the clutch drum prior to rotation of the clutch drum and means to retain the plunger in said position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
In an automatic clothes dryer of claim 2 wherein when the stop means is in said second position the plunger is withdrawn from engagement with the clutch drum by centrifugal force exerted by a weight sufficient to overcome the spring bias.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
In the automatic clothes dryer of claim 2 wherein said plunger is retained in said first position by a two position stop means, said stop means being pivotal from a first position engaging the plunger to a second position not engaging the plunger.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
In an automatic clothes dryer of claim 4 wherein the stop means is pivoted to said second position by means of actuation of a solenoid energized responsive to said selected predetermined temperature.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-05-01 | 1981-10-31 | 1982-05-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-05-01 | 1985-10-31 | 1986-05-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-05-01 | 1989-10-31 | 1990-05-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |