Abstract:
A dryer seal of substantially simplified construction which utilizes a folded construction of cooperating fibrous layers that are held in adjoined needled relation across their contacting surfaces. The needled layers are folded over and seamed inboard of the folded edge to yield a first leg and a second leg projecting away from the folded edge. The first leg is of substantially greater length than the second leg.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims benefit of and priority from provisional application 60/722,617 having a filing date of Sep. 30, 2005 the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety as if fully set forth herein. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     This invention relates to a dryer seal and more particularly to a dryer seal of simplified construction incorporating an arrangement of fibrous material forming a multi-layer sealing element of folded and seamed construction incorporating an exterior layer of low friction wool-component felt and an interior layer of polymeric felt. The layers are secured substantially across their interfaces by needing.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Automatic clothes dryers typically include a housing (also known as a bulkhead) and a rotating drum supported within the housing. It is known to use seal elements in the form of rings of felt which may be disposed between the housing and the drum so as to bear against the drum as it rotates. The use of a sealing element is desirable to prevent air leakage between the drum and the clothes dryer cabinet which could detrimentally affect the air flow system of the dryer. It is known to utilize seals in the form of ring structures incorporating a folded over exterior layer such as wool or wool blend nonwoven material with a spacer material such as polyester or polyester blend material held within the folded over exterior. The legs projecting outwardly from the folded edge form a sealing contacting relation with the rotating drum. Past structures have typically used substantially discrete exterior layers and spacer layers held together in the desired configuration by sewn seams.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     This invention provides advantages and alternatives over the prior art by providing a dryer seal of substantially simplified construction which utilizes a folded construction of cooperating fibrous layers that are held in adjoined needled relation across their contacting surfaces. The needled layers are folded over and seamed inboard of the folded edge to yield a first leg and a second leg projecting away from the folded edge. The first leg is of substantially greater length than the second leg. Each of the legs incorporates an upper or outer layer of wool or wool blend felt and a lower or inner layer of polymer or polymer blend felt such as polyester or the like. The layers forming the legs remain needled together across their interfacial surfaces. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]     The following drawings which are incorporated in and which constitute a part of this specification illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the present invention and, together with the general description above and the detailed description set forth below, serve to explain the principles of the invention wherein:  
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary clothes dryer with the rotating drum and seal illustrated in phantom;  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is an exploded cut-away view of a seal according to the present invention with the seal mounted around a bulkhead flange;  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is a cross section of the seal in folded, seamed configuration. 
     
    
       [0009]     While the invention has been generally described above and will hereinafter be described in connection with certain potentially preferred embodiments and procedures, it is to be understood and appreciated that in no event is the invention to be limited to such illustrated and described embodiments and procedures. On the contrary, it is intended that the present invention shall extend to all alternatives and modifications as may embrace the broad principles of this invention within the true spirit and scope thereof.  
       DESCRIPTION  
       [0010]     Reference will now be made to the various drawings wherein to the extent possible like reference numerals are utilized to designate corresponding components throughout the various views. In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is illustrated a dryer  10  including a cabinet body  12  housing a heated rotating drum  14 . As illustrated, the cabinet body includes a door opening  16  for loading clothing articles into the mouth of the drum  14 . The door opening  16  may be closed by means of a door  18 .  
         [0011]     As will be well known to those of skill in the art, the cabinet body  12  typically includes a bulkhead flange  20  ( FIG. 1A ) surrounding the door opening and projecting into the interior of the cabinet body. The bulkhead flange  20  is disposed generally around a reduced diameter drum opening  22 . An outer wall portion  24  of the drum is disposed in surrounding relation to the flange or ring  20 .  
         [0012]     As shown, a seal  30  is disposed around the bulkhead flange  20  between the outer wall portion  24  and the bulkhead flange  20 . As will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, dryers are typically vacuum systems. In operation the seal  30  prevents the draw of cool (non-heated) air from around the drum. With this flow path blocked, air is drawn more efficiently into the drum from a heated element area for use and eventual vent discharge.  
         [0013]     The seal  30  includes a fibrous exterior layer  36  and an internal fibrous interior support layer  38 . The exterior layer and the interior support layer are secured together across their interfacial surfaces such as by needling or the like such that fibers from each layer are mechanically joined to one another across the interface. As the dryer is operated the drum  14  may experience a degree of oscillation up and down.  
         [0014]     The joined exterior layer  36  and interior support layer  38  are folded over and seamed at a position inboard of the folded edge such as by a chain or lock stitch seam  39 . Such a folding and seaming operation forms a first leg  40  and a second leg  42  projecting generally away from the folded edge. The first leg  40  is of substantially greater length than the second leg  42 . Each of the legs includes the layered structure of the exterior layer  36  and the interior support layer  38  such that the exterior layer  36  and the interior support layer  38  each extend substantially continuously from the terminal end of the first leg to the terminal end of the second leg. The legs may flair out or compress as required to adjust for this up and down oscillation and thereby maintain contacting sealing relation with the moving drum.  
         [0015]     As will be appreciated, the dryer seal  30  is preferably of substantially circular construction. According to one potentially preferred practice the dryer seal  30  is formed by adjoining the opposing ends of an elongate sealing structure having a general cross-section as shown in  FIG. 3  by use of end to end stitching or other attachment means such as ultrasonic welding and the like as may be known to those of skill in the art.  
         [0016]     According to an exemplary formation practice, the exterior layer  36  is a needle punched nonwoven textile material formed from entangled fibers of wool or wool blend material such as wool and polyester or other synthetic fiber. Recycled grey wool material may be particularly desirable. In such a construction, the wool provides a degree of natural lubricity which may aid in avoiding premature damage. The interior support layer  38  is preferably a needle punched nonwoven of polyester. In one exemplary construction this interior support layer is needle punched polyester. The exterior layer  36  and the interior support layer  38  are preferably mechanically joined across their interfacial surfaces such as by interlayer needling or the like such that fibers from each of the layers extend across the interface in entangling relating with fibers of the opposing layer.  
         [0017]     While the present invention has been illustrated and described in relation to certain potentially preferred embodiments and practices, it is to be understood that such embodiments and practices are illustrative and exemplary only and that the present invention is in no event to be limited thereto. Rather, it is contemplated that modifications and variations to the present invention will no doubt occur to those of skill in the art upon reading the above description and/or through a practice of the invention. It is therefore contemplated and intended that the present invention shall extend to all such modifications and variations which incorporate the broad principles of the present invention within the full spirit and scope thereof.