A DRYING DEVICE

Abstract: A drying device (1) for drying laundry, clothing and the like, comprising a space enclosed by the bottom (2), walls (3, 5) and top surface (6) of the device, in which space, if desired, racks (13) or the like means for the articles to be dried are or can be arranged, whereas in one of the walls of the device there is received a solar collector (4) arranged in such a manner that so­ lar radiation impinging upon the collector (4) is emitted sub­ stantially in the form of heat directly and/or indirectly in the said space (the drying space), the device being further provided with means for enabling an air flow through the space.

Description: This invention relates to a drying device for drying laundry, clothing and the like by means of a solar collector, with a housing having a space therein, in which space, if desired, racks or the like means for the articles to be dried are arranged, and with a solar collector, comprising at least a glass plate and an absorber plate, means being provided for enabling an air flow through the said space. Such device is known from FR-A-2 568 678. This known drying device is provided with two cases, each comprising at least one pane of glass on which solar radiation can impinge. The solar collector of the known device, consisting of a glass pane and an absorber plate or layer, is incorporated in one of the two cases, whereas the space for the articles to be dried is comprised in the other of the two cases. The cases are such that they are in open connection with each other, so that an air flow through the case comprising the solar collector is heated in that case and will reach the case with the drying space. The drying device according to the invention is different in that the solar collector is received in at least part of one of the walls of the housing bounding the said space. Thus the device according to the invention is provided with only one case, one wall of which is, at least for a major part, used as collector. By such construction solar rays incident on the collector may be emitted substantially in the form of heat directly and/or indirectly in the drying space. The device according to the invention may be arranged fixedly, e.g. on the flat roof of a building, or be removable. A removable device according to the invention may be provided with (swiveling) wheels, rollers or the like for an easy displacement. In a suitable embodiment of the device according to the invention, the air flow enabling means comprise suitable openings in the bottom and a part of the walls and/or the top surface of the device. Preferably the dimensions of the openings are adjustable. In the device according to the invention there may be further provided in two opposed walls of the device, slotted openings adjacent the top of, or above the solar collector, said slots having the form of closable louvered gratings. In a different suitable embodiment of the device according to the present invention the wall wherein the solar collector is received is designed as a double wall in such a manner that between the solar rays and the wall portion adjoining the drying space, there is present a channel or a system of channels communicating on the one end with the outside air and on the other end continuing in the suitably constructed bottom of the device, suitable openings being provided in an open connection between channel or system of channels and drying space. Preferably, furthermore the racks or similar means for the article to be dried are arranged in extensible or unrollable fashion in the device, which is especially advantageous in a stationary device. The solar collector forming part of one of the walls of the device according to the present invention is preferably slightly inclined, so not arranged entirely vertical, in order to use the incident radiation as effectively as possible. The solar collector comprises an absorber provided e.g. with a spectral-selective layer so that there is little outward radiation. The back of the absorber facing towards the interior of the device is preferably black, so that a substantial heat radiation towards the interior is achieved. Some embodiments of the device according to the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the device according to the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a similar view of a different embodiment. In the figures, similar or comparable parts are indicated with identical reference numerals. In Fig. 1 the device 1 comprises a bottom 2 on which the rear wall 3 extends perpendicularly. Slightly sloping at the opposite side there is arranged the collector 4 forming the front wall of the "box". Collector 4 does not extend entirely up to the top of the box. The upper part of the front wall formed substantially by collector 4 is a vertical wall portion 5. Rear wall 3 and wall portion 5 are interconnected by the top plate 6. Wall portion 5 and the opposite upper portion of rear wall 3 are provided with slotted openings 7 oriented perpendicularly to the plane of drawing. Openings 7 are provided with louvered gratings 8, which are adjustable so that the dimension of openings 7 is adjustable therewith. Collector 4 comprises a glass plate 9 at the exterior of the device 1. At some interspace from said plate towards the interior there is arranged the absorber plate 10, which, at the side of glass plate 9, is provided with a spectral-selective layer. At the side facing towards the interior of box 1, absorber 10 is provided with a black layer. In operation, solar radiation, shown by wavy arrows 11, impinges upon absorber 10 through glass plate 9. The solar radiation 11 captured by a absorber 10 is irradiated in the form of heat through the black layer to the interior of box 1, which is shown by the small wavy arrows 12. Box 1 accommodates a drying rack, which comprises e.g. a plurality of rods 13 oriented transversely to the plane of drawing. Rods 13 can be disposed fixedly in the vertical side walls connecting the rear wall 3 and collector 4, in which case laundry, clothing or the like to be dried can be hung out on the rods e.g. via doors (not shown) in rear wall 3. Rods 13, however, may also form part of a separate construction, shown in the drawing by broken line 14. Such a separate rack 14 is arranged in its entirety in box 1 via doors (not shown) in rear wall 3 or one of the side walls. The advantage of such a detachable rack is that it can be loaded already elsewhere with the article to be dried, which is particularly useful when box 1 itself is arranged fixedly. Fig. 1 shows a mobile box 1. Underneath bottom 2 there are mounted suitably wheels 15, which may be swiveling wheels. Openings are furthermore provided in bottom 2. The bottom plate may be a grating plate to that effect. Through said openings, which may be closable, an air flow can extend upwards through box 1, as shown by arrows 16. Thus, water vapour released from the article to be dried by the heat emitted by collector 4 is discharged from box 1, which is promoted by the cross flow at the top of the box indicated by arrows 17. The embodiment of device 1 shown in Fig. 2 also comprises a bottom 2 having a rear wall 3 perpendicular thereto. The front wall opposite rear wall 3 is so to say a double wall. At the side of the drying space, said double wall comprises a wall portion 18 bounding the drying space. At the exterior, the double wall comprises a collector 4, which, again, may consist of an absorber 10 having e.g. a spectral-selective layer and a glass plate 9 slightly spaced in front thereof. Between wall portion 18 and collector 4 there is provided a channel or system of channels 19 terminating in the outside air at the top of collector 4. Wall portion 19, beyond collector 4, continues upwards as wall 5. Rear wall 3 and wall portion 5 are interconnected by bottom plate 6. The channel or channel system 19 is connected at the bottom to a channel or channel system 20 extending through bottom 2. The side of bottom 2 facing towards the drying space contains openings, so that air supplied through the channels can reach the drying space, as shown by arrows 16. In top of the device 1, above the removable drying rack 14 with rods 13, there is arranged a fan 21 by means of which air is transported through the device. This air is then drawn in by the channel system 19, 20, as shown by arrows 22, and is heated in channel system 19 by heat being irradiated from collector 4. In top of the device, the drawn in and heated air is blown off through suitable openings 23 in wall portions 3, 5. The device according to the present invention can be designed in different dimensions. A very useful box according to the present invention for instance has a height of about 1.5 m, a width.(from side wall to side wall) of about 1.25 m and a largest depth (from collector to rear wall) of about 0.75 m. Different variants of the device according to the present invention are possible. For instance, the absorber of the collector may be coupled to a system of conduits or reservoirs containing water or the like for the storage of heat. The advantage of the device according to the present invention over known drying drums is that no or practically no energy is used for operating the device, that the article to be dried is not subjected to wear and that the device requires hardly any maintenance, while the chance of failures is minimal. The advantage of the device according to the present invention over the traditional drying on the clothes line is a significantly shorter drying time and a weather-independent operation.

Claims: 1. A drying device (1) for drying laundry, clothing and the like by means of a solar collector (4), with a housing having a space therein, in which space, if desired, racks (13) or the like means for the articles to be dried are arranged, and with a solar collector (4), comprising at least a glass plate (9) and an absorber plate (10), means being provided for enabling an air flow (16, 22) through the said space, characterized in that the solar collector (4) is received in at least part of one of the walls of the housing bounding the said space. 2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the air flow enabling means comprise suitable openings (7) in the bottom (2) and a part of the walls (3, 5) and/or the top surface (6) of the device. 3. A device according to claim 2, characterized in that the dimensions of the openings (7) are adjustable. 4. A device according to claims 1-3, characterized in that two opposed walls (3, 5) of the device contain slotted openings (7) adjacent the top of, or above the solar collector (4), said slots having the form of closable louvered gratings (8). 5. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the wall receiving the solar collector (4) is designed as a double wall so that between the solar collector (4) and the wall portion adjoining the drying space there is present a channel (19) or channel system communicating on the one end with the outside air and on the other end continuing (20) in the suitably constructed bottom (2) of the device, suitable openings being provided in an open connection between channel or channel system (19, 20) and drying space.

Inventors: VAN HEEL, JOANNES MARIE
Applicants: VAN HEEL, JOANNES MARIE
Application year: 1987
Main classification: D06F58
IPC codes: D06F58