Self-cleaning lint trap and gravity assisted lint trap
AssigneeMaytag Corporation
InventorJeffrey L. Sears
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A self-cleaning lint trap includes an enclosed housing having an inlet port, an exhaust port, and a spiral chamber between the ports for imparting a circular air flow to air moving through the spiral chamber. A fine mesh screen extends across the exhaust port, and along the cylindrical side wall of the spiral chamber, for collecting lint from air passing through the chamber. A freely movable lightweight object is enclosed within the spiral chamber, and is moved about the chamber by the circular air flow to break off lint from the screens. A slot in the side wall of the chamber is fluidly connected to a lint collector, such that the compacted lint ball will be carried from the chamber through the slot and to the lint collector for later disposal.
Claims20
A self-cleaning lint filtration apparatus, comprising:
- an enclosed housing having an inlet port, an exhaust port, and a spiral chamber between the ports for imparting a circular air flow to lint-entrained air moving from the inlet port to the exhaust port;
- said spiral chamber having a perimeter side wall;
- a screen extending across the exhaust port, for collecting lint from air passing therethrough;
- a slot formed in the side wall, for exhausting lint from the housing;
- an object having a size greater than the slot, freely movable within the spiral chamber, having a shape and weight such that air flow through the spiral chamber will cause the object to continuously bounce about;
- and
- a lint collector in fluid communication with the slot, for receiving and collecting lint.
A self-cleaning lint filtration apparatus for a laundry dryer of the type having a dryer drum with an air exhaust line for exhausting lint-entrained air from the drum, and a blower having an inlet connected to the exhaust line and an outlet for creating an air flow through the drum, the exhaust line and out the blower outlet, comprising:
- an enclosed housing having an inlet port connected to the blower outlet, an exhaust port, and a spiral chamber between the ports for imparting a circular air flow to air moving from the inlet port to the exhaust port;
- said spiral chamber having a perimeter side wall;
- a screen extending across the exhaust port, for collecting lint form air passing therethrough;
- a slot formed in the side wall, for exhausting lint from the housing;
- an object having a size greater than the slot, freely movable within the spiral chamber, having a shape and weight such that air flow through the spiral chamber will cause the object to continuously bounce about;
- and
- a lint collector in fluid communication with the slot, for receiving and collecting lint.
In combination:
- a laundry dryer exhaust line having a blower with an inlet connected to a dryer drum exhaust vent and outlet, the blower creating an air flow from the exhaust vent, through the blower inlet, and out the blower outlet;
- and
- a self-cleaning lint filtration apparatus connected to the blower outlet, said self-cleaning lint filtration apparatus including:
- an enclosed housing having an inlet port connected to the blower outlet, an exhaust port, and a spiral chamber between the ports for imparting a circular air flow to air moving from the inlet port to the exhaust port;
- said spiral chamber having a perimeter side wall;
- a screen extending across the exhaust port, for collecting lint from air passing therethrough;
- a slot formed in the side wall, for exhausting lint from the housing;
- an object having a size greater than the slot, freely movable within the spiral chamber, having a shape and weight such that air flow through the spiral chamber will cause the object to continuously bounce about;
- and
- a lint collector in fluid communication with the slot, for receiving and collecting lint.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.