# US 2014/0360040 A1 · Laundry dryer with accessible recirculation air filter > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0360040 A1 - Document ID: US20140360040A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/912,580 - Filed: 2013-06-07 - Published: 2014-12-11 - Earliest claimed: 2013-06-07 - Assignees: Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag - Applicants: Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag - Inventors: Luciano SARTOR; Nicola BARUFFALDI; Flavio NOVIELLO - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140360040A1 ## CPC - D06F 58/22: Lint collecting arrangements - D06F 58/02: having dryer drums rotating about a horizontal axis - D06F: LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES ## Abstract A laundry dryer is provided with an air recirculation channel which recirculates air from an air exhaust channel to an air supply channel. The air recirculation channel comprises a recirculation air filter which removes debris from the recirculated air before it is redirected to the air supply channel. The recirculation air filter is removably accessible behind an access door at a peripheral region of an access passage to the drying chamber such that it may be easily serviced by a user of the laundry dryer. In some embodiments, the air recirculation channel may comprise a nozzle with an outlet which is concentrically arranged at an inlet of the air supply channel. In these embodiments, the nozzle may direct the recirculated air to the air supply channel such that it is enveloped by fresh air entering from within a cabinet of the laundry dryer. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vented laundry dryer comprising: a cabinet; a drying chamber provided within the cabinet; an air supply channel configured to supply air to the drying chamber; a heater configured to heat the air supplied to the drying chamber; a process air fan configured to move the air through the drying chamber; an air exhaust channel configured to exhaust a first portion of the air from the drying chamber; an air recirculation channel configured to direct a second portion of the air from the drying chamber to the air supply channel; and a recirculation air filter provided in the air recirculation channel and configured to filter the air in the air recirculation channel, wherein the recirculation air filter is removable and replaceable at a peripheral region of an access passage to the drying chamber. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vented laundry dryer of claim 1, wherein the peripheral region of the access passage is located behind an access door covering the access passage. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vented laundry dryer of claim 1, wherein the air recirculation channel and the recirculation air filter are provided downstream of the process air fan. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The vented laundry dryer of claim 3, further comprising a first stage air filter provided upstream of the process air fan, wherein the first stage air filter is removable and replaceable at the peripheral region of the access passage to the drying chamber. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The vented laundry dryer of claim 4, wherein a location of the recirculation air filter at the peripheral region of the access passage to the drying chamber is higher than a location of the first stage air filter at the peripheral region of the access passage to the drying chamber with respect to a floor of the vented laundry dryer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vented laundry dryer of claim 1, wherein the recirculation air filter is insertable into a housing forming part of the air recirculation channel such that, in an inserted position, the housing provides airflow spacing on a plurality of sides of the recirculation air filter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The vented laundry dryer of claim 6, wherein the recirculation air filter is insertable into the housing in a generally vertical orientation. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The vented laundry dryer of claim 1, wherein the recirculation air filter comprises a framework supporting mesh-filter material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The vented laundry dryer of claim 8, wherein the recirculated air filter is in a form of a hollow shell further comprising an open end provided at a bottom of the hollow shell, and a closed end provided at a top of the hollow shell, wherein the framework supporting the mesh-filter material extends from the open end to the closed end, and wherein the air recirculation channel is further configured to direct the second portion of the air through the recirculation air filter such that the second portion of the air enters the recirculation air filter through the open end and exits the recirculation air filter through the mesh-filter material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The vented laundry dryer of claim 9, wherein the recirculation air filter has a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The vented laundry dryer of claim 9, wherein the recirculation air filter further comprises a handle provided at the closed end, and wherein the recirculation air filter is further configured to be removable and replaceable at the peripheral region of the access passage to the drying chamber via the handle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The vented laundry dryer of claim 11, wherein the handle has an accurate contour generally following an arcuate contour of the peripheral region of the access passage to the drying chamber. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The vented laundry dryer of claim 12, wherein the peripheral region of the access passage to the drying chamber is generally cylindrical having a first radius of curvature, and wherein the handle is generally arcuate having the first radius of curvature. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The vented laundry dryer of claim 1, wherein the air supply channel comprises an inlet at an entrance to the air supply channel in open communication with air provided in the cabinet, wherein the air recirculation channel comprises an outlet at an exit of the air recirculation channel concentrically arranged within the inlet, and wherein air within the cabinet enters the air supply channel at an opening between a circumference of the inlet and a circumference of the air recirculation channel at the inlet. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The vented laundry dryer of claim 1, wherein the air recirculation channel is not physically connected to the air supply channel.