US 4,011,662 AGranted

Automatic valve assembly and heater/humidifier converter for clothes dryer

AssigneeDelmarco Management Ltd.

InventorsHoward Coe Davis, Nicholas Hoolsema

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Abstract

Automatic valve assembly connected to outlet from clothes dryer to selectively add heat and humidity to building. Bifurcated exhaust duct assembly has manual valve and filter in first duct to exhaust into building, and automatic valve in second duct to exhaust outside building. Automatic valve is retained closed by releasable latch means which releases valve automatically when filter becomes clogged with lint to such an extent as to generate excessive exhaust pressure on upstream side of valve. Valve plate is journalled on off-centered hinge axis so as to swing to open position when exposed to exhaust flow. Pressure sensing means exposed to exhaust pressure cooperates with latch means to release the latch means when exhaust pressure exceeds pre-determined excess. Steadying means cooperates with opened valve plate to maintain plate in open position which produces negligible restriction of flow past automatic valve. Latch means includes magnetic, over-centering, resilient or pneumatic types and steadying means includes magnetic or off-centered valve plate.

Claims14

Dependent claims

An automatic valve assembly for use with a clothes dryer having an exhaust opening within a building, the valve assembly communicating with an inlet duct which is connected to the dryer exhaust opening, and dividing at a duct junction into first and second exhaust ducts;

the first exhaust duct exhausting into the building, carrying a filter and having a manual valve adapted to close or open the first duct;
the second exhaust duct exhausting outside the building and carrying the automatic valve assembly;
the automatic valve assembly being characterized by:
i. a valve plate mounted for rotation about a hinge axis between closed and open positions, the plate having a central axis which divides the plate into two generally equal areas, the hinge axis being parallel to and spaced from the central axis to journal the plate off-centered so that when the plate is exposed to a predetermined flow of air a force on the plate is generated which tends to swing the plate towards the open position,
ii. releasable latch means cooperating with the plate to hold the plate closed until a predetermined excessive exhaust pressure is developed on an upstream side of the plate due to restriction of exhaust flow through the filter in the first exhaust duct,
iii. pressure sensing means exposed to exhaust pressure on the upstream side of the valve plate and cooperating with the latch means to release the latch means when the exhaust pressure exceeds the predetermined excessive pressure,
iv. steadying means cooperating with the plate to maintain the plate, when released, in the open position in which there is negligible restriction of air flow past the automatic valve.

4 more elements

A heater/humidifier converter for a clothes dryer having an exhaust opening within a building, the converter being characterized by:

i. a bifurcated duct assembly including an inlet duct adapted to communicate with the exhaust opening in the dryer, the duct dividing at a junction into a first exhaust duct which exhausts into the building, and a second exhaust duct which exhausts outside the building,
ii. the first exhaust duct being adapted to accept a filter and having a manual valve adapted to close or open the first exhaust duct,
iii. the second exhaust duct having an automatic exhaust pressure responsive valve assembly characterized by:
a. a valve plate mounted for rotation about a hinge axis between closed and open positions, the plate having a central axis which divides the plate into two generally equal areas, the hinge axis being parallel to and spaced from the central axis to journal the plate off-centred so that when the plate is exposed to a predetermined flow of air a force on the plate is generated which tends to swing the plate to the open position,
b. releasable latch means cooperating with the plate to hold the plate closed until a predetermined excessive exhaust pressure is developed on an upstream side of the plate due to restriction of exhaust flow through the filter in the first exhaust duct,
c. pressure sensing means exposed to exhaust pressure on the upstream side of the valve plate and cooperating with the latch means to release the latch means when the exhaust pressure exceeds the predetermined excessive pressure,
d. steadying means cooperating with the plate to maintain the plate, when released, in the open position in which there is negligible restriction of air flow past the automatic valve.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.