Systems and methods for liquid-based lint collection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016177496-A1
Application number	US-201514972358-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 17, 2015
Priority date	Dec 23, 2014
Publication date	Jun 23, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A screen-free, liquid-based lint collection system is disclosed. The system comprises an initial air-lint conduit. The air-lint conduit is coupled to a lint collection reservoir. The system further comprises a spray assembly and a sensor. The spray assembly is configured to spray a liquid into the lint-collection reservoir. The sensor monitors the level of the liquid collected in the lint-collection reservoir.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A lint collection system, comprising:
an initial air-lint conduit a lint-collection reservoir coupled to the initial air-lint conduit; a spray assembly configured to spray a liquid into the lint-collection reservoir; and a sensor that monitors the level of the liquid collected in the lint-collection reservoir.

2 . The lint collection system according to claim 1 , further comprising a pump coupled to the lint-collection reservoir.

3 . The lint collection system according to claim 1 , further comprising a blower fluidically coupled to the initial air-lint conduit.

4 . The lint collection system according to claim 3 , further comprising an air passageway positioned between the air-lint conduit and the fan/blower.

5 . The lint collection system according to claim 1 , wherein the blower is configured to force an air-lint combination from a dryer tumbler over the liquid collected into the lint-collection reservoir.

6 . The lint collection system according to claim 1 , wherein the spray assembly comprises a plurality of spray nozzles.

7 . The lint collection system according to claim 6 , wherein the plurality of spray nozzles are configured to spray the liquid along a plurality of inner walls of the lint-collection reservoir.

8 . The lint collection system according to claim 6 , wherein the plurality of spray nozzles are directed in complementary directions within the reservoir generating a rotational flow of the liquid collected in the lint-collection reservoir.

9 . A lint collection system, comprising:
a system chamber, having an inlet that receives an air-lint combination and defining an interior having a reservoir section and an air flow area; an interior conduit disposed within the system chamber; a spray assembly that sprays liquid into the reservoir section; and a sensor that monitors the level of the liquid collected in the reservoir section.

10 . The lint collection system according to claim 9 , wherein the interior conduit comprises a stepped entry region, an angled transition region, and an outlet region.

11 . The lint collection system according to claim 10 , wherein the spray assembly comprises at least one spray nozzle disposed in the interior conduit.

12 . The lint collection system according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one spray nozzle directs the sprayed liquid to an inner surface of the interior conduit.

13 . The lint collection system according to claim 9 , wherein the spray assembly comprises a plurality of spray nozzles.

14 . The lint collection system according to claim 13 , wherein the plurality of spray nozzles are connected to inner walls of the lint-collection reservoir.

15 . A clothes dryer, comprising:
an outer body, having a hatch door; a tumbler disposed within the outer body coupled to the hatch door; a screen-free, liquid-based lint collection system, the lint collection system comprising:
an initial air-lint conduit fluidically coupled to the tumbler;
a lint-collection reservoir coupled to the initial air-lint conduit;
a spray assembly that sprays liquid into the lint-collection reservoir; and
a sensor that monitors the level of the liquid collected in the lint-collection reservoir.

16 . The clothes dryer according to claim 15 , wherein the initial air-lint conduit corresponds to an interior conduit extending at least partially into the lint-collection reservoir.

17 . The clothes dryer according to claim 15 , wherein interior conduit forms a substantially rectangular shape and extends into the lint collection reservoir having a complementary shape configured to receive the substantially rectangular shape.

18 . The clothes dryer according to claim 17 , wherein the receipt of the interior conduit into the reservoir forms a space channeling the flow of an air lint combination from the tumbler between the interior conduit and the air lint reservoir.

19 . The clothes dryer according to claim 15 , wherein the spray assembly comprises a plurality of spray nozzles.

20 . The lint collection system according to claim 19 , wherein the plurality of spray nozzles are configured to spray the liquid along a plurality of inner walls of the lint-collection reservoir.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Moniz Victor A
• Quinn Daniel Eugene
• Sampson Justin William
• Villella Bruce R

Classifications

• B01D47/06

  Spray cleaning · CPC title

• D06F58/22 Primary

  Lint collecting arrangements · CPC title

• D06F2105/34

  Filtering, e.g. control of lint removal devices · CPC title

• D06F58/45

  Cleaning or disinfection of machine parts, e.g. of heat exchangers or filters · CPC title