Patent Publication Number: US-2007101603-A1

Title: Appliance attachable to a dryer and a dryer for use therewith

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to an appliance and a safety device for a clothes dryer, and especially to a lint collector and safety system for the exhaust of a clothes dryer. In particular, the collector and safety system is adapted to be attached to a clothes dryer and for example in the absence of an adequate flow of exhaust air from the dryer, the system interrupts the electrical power to the dryer until such time as an adequate flow is available. In addition the safety system may interrupt the electrical power to the dryer for other dryer malfunctions.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Domestic clothes dryers typically have a chamber into which the wet clothes are placed for drying. Heated moist air is exhausted from the drying chamber through a screen that is intended to collect lint from the clothes. The exhaust air then typically passes through a duct that runs from the dryer to the exterior wall of the building so that the heated moist air is exhausted to the exterior of the building. The exhaust of the duct usually has a screen or flap that is intended to prevent rodents from entering the duct pipe. In practice, the screen at the dryer rapidly becomes covered in a layer of lint, and should be removed and cleaned, after or before every load that is dried. In many instances the screen is cleaned less frequently. Moreover, the screen at the dryer is not 100% effective in removing lint from the exhaust air, and further lint collects in the duct, and especially at any screen located at the exterior of the building or elsewhere in the duct work. In addition, cleaning of the screen will often cause lint to fall into the duct and thus increase the lint clogging the duct work in the building.  
      In multi dwelling buildings typically an additional lint trap of very fine screen is installed down stream from the dryer lint trap. The term multi dwelling building is meant to cover both residential and commercial buildings that have clothes dryers including apartments, condominiums, hospitals, nursing homes, cleaners and the like. This lint screen is often located in a place that is awkward to reach and difficult to clean. The screen inevitably clogs up very quickly with lint and for safety reasons should be cleaned after every use. As a result of difficulties in reaching and cleaning the screen, people frequently remove and dispose of the lint trap screen. This has the effect of permitting lint to pass into the duct and collect in the duct and/or at an in-line booster fan that is typically located in the exhaust ducting, and required by law in some jurisdictions. If the fine screen is removed, the blades on the booster fan will become gummed up with lint, which restricts circulation of exhaust air through the duct, creates a back pressure and lint build-up in the dryer and duct, and ultimately could result in a fire.  
      The build-up of back pressure in clothes dryers results in increased energy costs in order to dry the same load of clothes. Dryer time inevitably increases in relation to the amount of lint build up on the lint screen and in the duct work. An increase in drying time to as much as double that of the optimum drying times can increase by four to five times if the lint screen is cleaned infrequently.  
      In multi dwellings buildings, dryer ducting and in-line boost fans need to be cleaned at least once a year, even when the dryer lint screen and the in-line lint trap are used properly. Similarly, the screen and ducts at the exterior of a home needs to be cleaned with the same frequency.  
      Lint inevitably carries germs and viruses. When the lint trap screen becomes blocked, lint is forced out of the ducting system through any existing joints that are not adequately sealed. Consequently, lint particles leak out and spread through the air in the residence, carrying with them germs and viruses. Also when the lint screen is cleaned lint particles will typically be released into the home or multi dwelling building.  
      Fires can be caused by inadequate cleaning of dryers, lint screens and ducts in the dryer exhaust systems. The fires can be caused by overheating of fans or heating systems of the dryer and are spread by the lint in the dryer, in the duct and on the fan blades.  
      Systems to intercept lint in the dryer exhaust system are known. For example, the lint interceptor described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,115,485 is free of filters, screens or the like, to eliminate overheating of the associated dryer due to increased back pressure caused by clogging of screens or filters. The air from the lint interceptor is exhausted directly into the room, which eliminates further sources of back pressure.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,122 describes a lint remover that utilizes the water discharge of a clothes washer.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 2,577,104 describes a dryer safety control that has a counterweighted vane with electrical contacts, in which the vane on reduction of air flow closes the electrical contacts. Such a control would be very susceptible to deposits of lint on the electrical contacts and/or vane.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 3,639,998 utilizes a fan that would be susceptible to deposits of lint, and measures pressure drop across a screen.  
      A lint collector and safety system for the exhaust of a clothes dryer would be very useful, especially in reducing the likelihood of fires, and consequent injury or death of occupants of the house or multi dwelling buildings, as well as for more efficient drying of clothes.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      A lint collector and safety system that is adaptable to a variety of situations has now been found.  
      Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention provides a lint collector and safety system for the exhaust of a clothes dryer, comprising: a housing, said housing having an inlet and an outlet in an upper surface of the housing for passage of exhaust air from the dryer, said inlet being adapted for attachment to the dryer, said housing having a water reservoir, said inlet being disposed such that exhaust air from the dryer is directed into the surface of water in the water reservoir, said outlet have a flow meter therein, said flow meter being adapted to cause an interruption in the electrical circuit of the dryer if flow of exhaust air decreases below a pre-determined limit.  
      Another aspect of the present invention provides a safety system for a clothes dryer, said dryer having an outlet pipe for conveying of exhaust air from the dryer, said outlet pipe having a flow meter therein, said flow meter being adapted to cause a break in the electrical circuit of the dryer if the flow of exhaust air decreases below a pre-determined limit. The safety system may include an electrical field which “electrocutes” lint that passes therethrough. The safety system with the electrical field may be housed inside the dryer.  
      A further aspect of the present invention provides a clothes dryer comprising: a chamber to receive and retain clothes to be dried; an air inlet to said chamber, said air inlet having means to heat air entering the chamber through said air inlet; an air outlet to said chamber, said air outlet having a fan therein for withdrawal of air from the chamber, means to feed air from said fan to a lint collector system, said lint collector system having a housing with an inlet, an outlet and a water reservoir, said inlet being disposed such that air is fed from the fan into the water reservoir and then to said outlet.  
      Yet another aspect of the invention provides in a clothes dryer having a chamber to receive and retain clothes to be dried, an air inlet to said chamber with means to heat air entering the chamber through said air inlet to a pre-determined temperature, means to control said clothes dryer, an air outlet to said chamber, a lint screen in said outlet and a fan for withdrawal of air from the chamber through said lint screen, the improvement comprising replacing said lint screen with a exterior lint collector system having a housing with an inlet, an outlet and a water reservoir, said lint collector system being located such that air withdrawn from the chamber by the fan is passed from the fan through the inlet of the lint collector system and directed onto water in the water reservoir.  
      A further aspect of the invention provides an electrical socket for receiving a dryer plug and a connection to a safety system. The electrical socket includes a socket for providing power to the dryer plug; a connection to the safety system for providing power to the safety system and for receiving signals from the safety system; and a method for interrupting power to the dryer response to predetermined signals from the safety system. The predetermined signal may be responsive to air flow dropping below a predetermined level, time or use being above a predetermined time, temperature being above a predetermined limit or the water in the safety system being below a predetermined level.  
      Further features of the invention will be described or will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The present invention is illustrated by the embodiments shown in the drawings, in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an appliance of the present invention adapted to be attached to a clothes dryer including a wet lint collector;  
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the appliance of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the appliance attached to a clothes dryer and showing a non-restricting cover plate;  
       FIG. 4  is an alternate embodiment of the non-restricting cover plate;  
       FIG. 5  is a second alternate embodiment of the non-restricting cover plate;  
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an adapter for the electrical supply to the dryer;  
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of an adapter for the electrical supply to the dryer;  
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a second alternate embodiment of an adapter for the electrical supply to the dryer;  
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a third alternate embodiment of an adapter for the electrical supply to the dryer;  
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a receptacle for the electrical supply to the dryer;  
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a receptacle for the electrical supply to the dryer;  
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of an appliance of the present invention similar to that shown in  FIG. 1  but with an alternate control panel;  
       FIG. 13  is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 12  and showing an alternate lint;  
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the appliance of  FIG. 12  attached to a clothes dryer and the receptacle of  FIG. 10 ;  
       FIG. 15  is an exploded perspective view of a second alternate embodiment of an appliance of the present invention similar to that shown in  FIG. 2  but with a sieve;  
       FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a safety control appliance of the present invention adapted to be attached to a clothes dryer;  
       FIG. 17  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a safety control appliance similar to that shown in  FIG. 16  but having a different orientation;  
       FIG. 18  is a perspective view of a second alternate embodiment of a safety control appliance similar to that shown in  FIG. 17  but having a vane type flow meter;  
       FIG. 19  is a perspective view of a second alternate embodiment of a safety control appliance similar to that shown in  FIG. 17  but having a propellor type flow meter;  
       FIG. 20  is a perspective view of a second alternate embodiment of a safety control appliance similar to that shown in  FIG. 17  but having a pressure sensor/switch type flow meter;  
       FIG. 21  is a perspective view of an appliance of the present invention adapted to be attached to a clothes dryer including an dryer outlet flow meter and a dry lint handling system;  
       FIG. 22  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of an appliance similar to that shown in  FIG. 21  but showing a different means of obtaining an electrical field; and  
       FIG. 23  is a perspective view of a dryer of the present invention including an appliance similar to that shown in  FIG. 21 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to an appliance and safety system for a clothes dryer. In particular, the appliance includes, in sequence, a lint collector system and a system to interrupt electrical power to the dryer in the absence of adequate flow of exhaust air from the dryer or a dryer malfunction.  
       FIG. 1  shows an appliance of the present invention also referred to as a lint collector system, generally designated by  1 . Lint collector system  1  has upper housing  2  and lower housing  3 . Upper housing  2  has inlet  4  and outlet  5  located in upper surface  6  of upper housing  2 . The diameter of each of inlet  4  and outlet  5  may be varied, but is most preferably of the same diameter as exhaust ducting passing from a clothes dryer. In particular, each of inlet  4  and outlet  5  is of a diameter consistent with the flexible corrugated hose that is used with many clothes dryers. However, it will be understood that the diameter may be varied to accommodate a lint collector system  1  into an existing exhaust system from a clothes dryer.  
      Upper housing  2  has a pair of horizontal wall bracket  7 , which are adapted to attach the lint collector system  1  to a surface, e.g., a wall, using screw holes  9 . Horizontal wall brackets are preferred, especially of a length that permits opening of closure  10 , as discussed below. Vertical wall brackets could be used but would be more susceptible to inadvertent installation in an inconvenient position.  
      Lower housing  3  is separable from upper housing  2 , and in normal use is attached to upper housing  2  by means of closure  10 . It is understood that closure  10  may be of any type suitable for attachment of lower housing  3  to upper housing  2 , while permitting separation of lower housing  3  from upper housing  2 . As will be apparent from the discussion herein, closures  10  will be provided on opposed ends of upper housing  2 , such that lower housing  3  may be detached and lowered from upper housing  2  for the purpose of emptying. As discussed herein, lower housing  3  contains water,  11 , for collection of lint.  
      Outlet  5  is shown with flow meter  12  located therein. Flow meter  12  may be located close to or as part of lint collector system  1 , being located in outlet  5  of lint collector system  1 , or flow meter  12  could be located at any convenient location downstream from outlet  5 . Preferably the flow meter  12  is located downstream from the lint collector, i.e. the lint collector and flow meter are located in sequence in the safety device. Flow meter  12  will not be located prior to inlet  4  as in such a location, as will be apparent from the discussion herein, flow meter  12  would become covered in lint over a period of time. If the flow meter became covered in lint, the operation of the flow meter and interruption of the electrical circuit described herein would be affected. For instance, the calibration of the flow meter would be affected. A flow meter covered in lint could cause interruption of the electrical circuit even through the flow of air was adequate and/or fail to function at all i.e. cause interruption at all times until cleaned. It is intended that flow meter  12  would measure flow of exhaust air but cause minimal restriction in the flow of exhaust air. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that although it is preferable for the flow meter  12  to be downstream of the lint collector system  1 , it could also be upstream of the lint collector system. It would merely require more cleaning if it was upstream of the lint collector system  1 .  
      Flow meter  12  may have a variety of forms. For instance, flow meter  12  could be in the form of flapper  100  as is shown in the drawings. The flapper  100  would cover the cross-section of the outlets and be pivotally attached to opposed sides  102  of the outlet  5 . The flapper  100  would be sufficiently light in weight to be easily pivoted during flow of air. The position of the flapper  100  will range between fully opened and fully closed. If the flow of air is below a predetermined level the position of the flapper  100  will indicate that there is an inadequate flow of air and the electrical power to the dryer would be interrupted. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that alternate flow meters could also be used.  
      A water level probe  68  (shown in  FIG. 2 ), extends down from control panel  61 . Water level probe  68  is intended to detect the presence of water within lower housing  3 . If water is not detected, it is intended that the electrical supply to the dryer would be interrupted until such time as water has been added to lower housing  3 . The presence of an adequate water level would be indicated on control panel  61  by display  62  or indicator light  108  (shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 ).  
       FIG. 2  shows the lint collector system of  FIG. 1  in an exploded or open view. Upper housing  2  would be attached to a surface, e.g., a wall, by means of wall bracket  7 , using screw holes  9 . It is understood that inlet  4  would be attached to a clothes dryer and outlet  5  would be attached to an exhaust system as shown in  FIG. 3 . Lower housing  3  has been detached from upper housing  2 , by opening closure  10 , shown as  10 A and  10 B. It is also understood that upper housing  2  would remain in its normal use position, and that lower housing  3  would be detached and removed from upper housing  2 .  
      Lower housing  3  would be partially filled with water  11 , e.g. up to water level  13 . In use, the water lever may be varied, but maximum water level  13  should be at a height such that exhaust air entering inlet  4  may easily pass above water level  13  and exit through outlet  5 . In preferred embodiment, water level lines could be provided to show maximum (full) water level  13  and re-fill water level  106 .  
      Lower housing  3  is shown with optional filter  14 , which is shown as being located in over generally one half of the lower housing proximate to the outlet  5 . Preferably filter  14  is a fine mesh that will allow air to pass through but will catch any lint that did not touch water  11 . Filter  14  is intended to facilitate drainage of lower housing  3 , so that water within lower housing  3  may be poured, e.g., decanted, from lower housing  3  without substantial discharge of solid matter that may be in the water. Further, filter  14  minimizes the lint that enters outlet  5 . The use of filter  14  is particularly important in buildings that include booster fans in the exhaust systems. Booster fans are most often found in multi dwelling buildings. Discharge of the entire contents of lower housing  3 , i.e. a mixture of water and lint, could result in blockage of drains.  
      Upper surface  6  of upper housing  2  has control panel  61  located thereon. As shown, control panel  61  has a display  62 . Display  62  may be used to show information relating to a variety of functions relating to the operation of lint collector system  1 . Alternatively the control panel  61  may have a plurality of indicator lights  108  as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , depending on the functions of the lint collector system that are to be monitored. Each indicator light  108  would have appropriate identification.  
      In addition to the flow meter  12 , lint collector system  1  may also include a number of safety features. For example as discussed above the flow meter  12  monitors the flow in the system so that if the flow drops below a predetermined level the power to the dryer is interrupted and the dryer is shut off at the source. This is described in more detail below. In addition the water level of the lint collector system  1  is monitored and if the water level drops below a predetermined level the power to the dryer is shut off. In addition the lint collector system may include a timer such that the dryer is shut off after a predetermined maximum time. Further, the lint collector system may include a temperature gage so that the dryer is shut off if the temperature is above a predetermined temperature. Preferably all of these safety features would be connected through control panel  61 .  
      Accordingly it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the lint collector system  1  of the present invention may be arranged such that if the timer on the dryer malfunctions the dryer will be shut off since the dryer has run more than the predetermined time. Likewise if the dryer overheats or fails to shut off because the dryer drive belt breaks or the dryer motor malfunctions or the heating element malfunctions the dryer will be shut off since the temperature will be above the predetermined allowable temperature or beyond the maximum time allowable. Similarly if a duct pipe falls off or the duct becomes obstructed the dryer will be shut off. As discussed above the control panel  61  will indicate the type of malfunction either with the display  62  or indicator lights  108 .  
       FIG. 3  shows a lint collector system  1  attached to a clothes dryer  20 . Clothes dryer  20  has a door  21 , with latch  22 , for entry and removal of clothes from the drying chamber, not shown. Clothes dryer  20  has dryer control panel  23 , with a temperature control  24 , timer  25  and an ON/OFF switch  26 . In addition, clothes dryer  20  has lint screen  27 . As is known, lint screen  27  is a removable screen for initial collection of lint existing with exhaust air from the clothes dryer. Preferably lint screen  27  is removed and replaced with a non-restricting cover plate  104  (shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 ). Non-restricting cover plate  104  helps to maximize the lint that exits the dryer into the exhaust air tubing  29  and thus into lint collector system  1 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , lint screen  27  is on the upper surface of dryer  20 , which is a common location for a lint screen. Another common location for a lint screen is immediately inside door  21  as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . Lint screen  27  could be at other locations in dryer  20 .  
      Exhaust air tubing  28  extends from clothes dryer  20 . Exhaust air tubing  28  is connected to clothes dryer  20  as is known, and is connected at its opposed end to inlet  4  of lint collector system  1 . Outlet  5  of lint collector system  1  is attached to outlet tubing  29 . Outlet tubing  29  is shown as being connected to an outlet  30  in an exterior wall  32 . The outlet  30  has a flap  33  to prevent air or rodents entering the outlet tubing  29 . It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that although outlet tubing  29  is shown as being attached to an outlet  30  in an exterior wall  32  it could also be vented directly into the house or multi dwelling buildings. Alternatively, outlet tubing  29  could be connected to the furnace  39  of the house or multi dwelling buildings, to supply warm moist air directly to the furnace, and thereby reduce the amount of heat that is required to heat the building. In addition, connection of outlet tubing to the furnace would supply warm moist air to the furnace, which would assist in humidifying the building, particularly in winter months in climates that would have extreme cold and dry weather. As a further alternative a Y or Tee connection  31  could be included wherein the outlet is not only connected to both the outside through exterior wall  32  as described above but also connected to the furnace  39 . The Y or Tee connection  31  could have a summer setting wherein the outlet is vented outside and a winter setting wherein the outlet is vented to the furnace or inside the home.  
      Referring to  FIG. 8 , adapter  34  includes a female portion  35  and a male portion  36 . Male portion  36  is to be plugged into a conventional wall socket  37 . Dryer electrical plug  38  is attachable to female portion  35 . In addition lint collector system  1  is operably connected to adapter  34 . A variety of different methods of connecting lint collector system  1  to adapter are shown in FIGS.  6  to  9 . As shown in  FIG. 6 a  phone jack type connector having a male portion  110  and a female portion  112  may be used. As shown in  FIG. 7 a  three pronged plug type connection may be used having a male portion  114  and a female portion  116 . Also shown in  FIG. 7  are two flanges  115  extending outwardly from the sides of the adapter  34 . Flanges  115  have holes  117  therein for receiving screws  119 . This allows adapter  34  to be attached to the wall over receptacle  37 . Alternatively as shown in  FIG. 8  lint collector system  1  may be hard wired into adapter  34  through wire  118 . Adapter  34  is intended to be inserted into the wall socket  37  used for the clothes dryer, following which the electrical connection from the clothes dryer  38  would be plugged into the adapter.  FIG. 9  shows a further alternative of adapter  34  which is adapted to be attached to the wall and is provided with a female portion  35  for receiving dryer electrical plug  38  and a plug  121  for attachment to wall socket  37 . A plurality of flanges  123  with holes  125  therein extend outwardly from the adapter  34  to be attached to a wall. As discussed above a variety of methods of connecting the lint collector system  1  to the adapter may be used and one such connection is shown in  FIG. 9  wherein a phone jack type connector  112  is used. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the flanges may have a variety of different shapes.  
      Referring to  FIG. 6 , adapter  34  is shown with four prongs,  41 A- 41 D. Adapter  34  has corresponding receptacles  43 A- 43 D in housing  45  for receipt of the plug attached to the dryer. Electrical lead  36  extends from housing  45  of adapter  34  to the control panel either directly or through intermediate connections.  
      Housing  45  would contain a relay (not shown) or other electrical disconnect system that would effect a disruption of power between plugs  41 A- 41 D and plug receptacles  43 A- 43 D. The electrical disconnect system is preferably adapted to effect disruption of electrical power if the control panel is disconnected from adapter  34 . Similarly the electrical disconnect system is preferably adapted to effect disruption of electrical power if other indicators are above the predetermined levels including the dryer has been in operation longer than the predetermined time, the temperature is above a predetermined value or the water is below the minimum indicator.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11  it is further preferred that adapter  34  be incorporated into the wall socket  37  of FIGS.  6  to  9  which is used for the clothes dryer as an integral part of a modified wall socket  50 . This would prevent circumvention of the safety system of the present invention by removal of adapter  34 . Accordingly modified wall socket  50  includes a dryer type socket portion  52  and a connection for lint collector system socket portion  54 . In  FIG. 10 a  phone connector type socket  56  is shown and in  FIG. 11 a  three pronged plug type socket  58  is shown. In both instances lint collector system socket portion  54  and dryer type socket portion  52  are connected such that socket  50  contains a relay or other electrical disconnect system that would effect a disruption of power to dryer type socket portion  52 .  
      In operation, lint is created during the drying process and is exhausted through the exhaust air tubing  28  and into the inlet  4  of lint collector system  1 . Preferably the clothes dryer  20  does not include a lint collector. Accordingly, if it is an old style dryer with an internal lint collector the internal lint collector is disabled with a non-restricting cover plate  104 . A variety of lint collector inserts are shown in FIGS.  3  to  5 . It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the lint collector system  1  could also be used in addition to a conventional dryer with a lint collector therein. However, preferably it is used with a dryer with no internal lint collector or a disabled lint collector.  
      The exhaust air passing through inlet  4  is directed onto the surface of water  11 . The lint that is in the exhaust air contacts and remains on the surface of water  11 , and eventually it becomes waterlogged and falls to the bottom of the water in lower housing  3 . The exhaust air, then free of lint, passes along the surface of the water  11  and out of outlet  5  of lint collector system  1 . As is illustrated in Examples below, the exhaust air passing out of outlet  5  is generally free of lint. It is for this reason that the exhaust air may be vented directly into the home or through a furnace used to heat the home. Alternatively, the exhaust air may be vented directly outside. Any screen that is located in external wall  32  would not become clogged with lint, and thus would permit passage of air.  
      In the event that a screen, located between the drying chamber of clothes dryer  20  and exhausting of air from the building or through the furnace, should become clogged, the flow of exhaust air through exhaust air tubing  28  will be decreased. This will most typically occur when lint screen  27  becomes clogged with lint, and has not been cleaned. However, there are a number of other reasons that the flow may be reduced. The flow of air passing through exhaust air tubing  28  is measured by flow meter  12  located in outlet  5  of lint collector system  1 . Flow meter  12  is set to record the flow of exhaust air, and would normally record whether or not the flow of air was above or below a preset level. If the flow of air was above the preset level, the clothes dryer would continue to operate. However, if the flow meter  12  detects that the flow of air falls below the preset level, flow meter  12  causes electrical interruption in the electrical supply to clothes dryer  20 . The flow meter  12  may be connected through control panel  61 . For instance, flow meter could cause an electrical interruption by means of adapter  34 . If, subsequent to an interruption of electrical supply, obstruction is removed such that there is now an adequate flow of exhaust air through exhaust air tubing  28 , the operator of the dryer would push switch  26  to re-start the dryer. Flow meter  12  would detect the adequate flow of air and the dryer would remain in operation. However, if the operator pushed switch  26  to re-start the dryer without having cleared the obstruction, there would still be an inadequate flow of air and there would be an immediate interruption of electrical supply and clothes dryer  20  would not function.  
      Lint collector system  1  would be located at a convenient location, typically close to the clothes dryer and substantially at eye level. Preferably lower housing  3  is transparent, so that an operator would be able to observe the quantity of lint that has collected in water  11 . Alternatively, the lower housing could be an opaque material. The water in lower housing  3  may be replaced after disconnecting lower housing  3  from upper housing  2 , pouring water down that drain and solid matter into a garbage container. It is to be expected that an operator would normally clean lower housing  3  more frequently than would be necessary for operation of lint collector system  1 , as the appearance of the water in lower housing  3  would likely indicate that the water should be changed before it is essential to do so.  
      Referring to FIGS.  12  to  14  an alternate lint collector system  60  is shown with larger dimensions than lint collector system  1 . It is to be understood that the dimensions of the lint collector system, and especially the dimensions of upper housing  2  and lower housing  3  may be varied. Examples of dimensions of the lint collector systems are given in the examples below. However, it is found that increasing the distance between inlet  4  and outlet  5  reduces the likelihood that air entering inlet  4  will flow directly to and out of outlet  5  without lint particles entrained in the air contacting the surface of the water. Filters or screens may be placed in the lint collector system, most preferably at the junction of outlet  5  with upper surface  6  of upper housing  2  to reduce any likelihood of lamina flow of air from inlet  4  to outlet  5 .  
      The embodiment of  FIGS. 12 and 13  has a different filter  64 , than the lint collector system of  FIG. 1 . Filter  64  is angled across on end of lower housing  3  generally from the bottom corner  65  to the middle  66  at the outlet end of the lower housing. The angled filter  64  has a similar function to filter  14 . When the lint collector system  60  is in use the water therein is somewhat turbulent, this turbulence helps to keep the angled filter  64  clean.  
      The embodiments of  FIG. 14  does not show the presence of lint screen  27  illustrated in  FIG. 3 . In a typical clothes dryer, a lint screen  27  is located on the exhaust side of the drying chamber of the clothes dryer by a fan that is located downstream from lint screen  27 . As the air is drawn into the drying chamber, this inlet air is heated to the desired temperature. Thus, air is not blown into the drying chamber, but is rather pulled through the drying chamber by a fan located downstream of the lint screen. This arrangement ensures that air is only drawn into the drying chamber at the rate at which it can be exhausted from the drying chamber. However, the presence of the lint screen in the tubing through which the air from the dryer must pass is an impediment to the flow of air, even if the lint screen  27  is completely free of lint. As the lint screen becomes covered with lint, the flow of air decreases further. Removal of the lint screen causes an increase in the flow of air in a typical dryer of approximately 50% to 100%. Such an increase in the flow of air substantially reduces the time required to dry a load of clothes. Thus, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an alternate dryer  90  is shown with the lint screen removed therefrom in its entirety so that air exhausts directly from the clothes dryer without having to pass through a lint screen. Lint is removed from the exhausted air using a lint collector system of the type described herein. Thus, a preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a dryer and lint collector system in combination, without a lint screen, i.e. the lint screen of the dryer is replaced with a lint collector system described herein.  FIG. 14  shows a wall outlet  50  that would be particularly used with a new home installation. However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that dryer  90  could also be used with adapter  34  if new outlet  50  is not being installed in the home.  
      Referring to  FIG. 15 a  lint collector system is shown at  150  which is similar to that shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Lint collector system  150  includes a smaller sieve  151 . In installations that include no booster fan a smaller sieve such as that shown herein may be used. In all other aspects it is the same as that described above with regard to lint collector system  1 . This lint collector system is of particular use with dryers that include a lint screen. It has been observed lint screens in many dryers still allow a certain amount of lint into the dryer outlet therefore the lint collector system herein may still be used with such dryers and in those instances a large sieve need not be used in the lint collector system  150 . However it should be noted that a dryer and lint collector system that does not include a lint screen inside the dryer is generally more efficient.  
      The lint collector system of  FIGS. 12-14  and that of  FIG. 15  would be operated in the same manner as described above for  FIGS. 1-3 .  
      The safety system of the present invention is intended to collect lint from the dryer and to effect a disruption of electrical power in the event that the flow of exhaust air decreases below a pre-set limit or dryer malfunction due to mechanical failure. This will improve dryer efficiency by maintaining an adequate flow of exhaust air, and reduce the likelihood of fires due to a plugged exhaust line, overheated dryer or the like. While improvements in dryer efficiency are important from an economic point of view, the reduction in fires and consequent reduced potential for loss of life is of a prime importance. The system also permits exhaustion of air external to the building or recycling of clean moist air through a heating furnace, as both a savings in heating costs and an increase in humidity. The latter is important in dry climates. It is not intended that the exhaust air subsequent to the flow meter be sent directly into the room in which the dryer is used, because of lack of control of temperature and humidity in the room.  
      Referring to FIGS.  16  to  20  the system may be a monitoring system. Referring to  FIG. 16  the monitoring system  130  includes the flow meter  12  described above. The flow meter  12  monitors the flow in the system so that if the flow drops below a predetermined level the power to the dryer is interrupted and the dryer is shut off at the source. In addition the monitoring system  130  may include a timer such that the dryer is shut off after a predetermined maximum time. Further, the monitoring system  130  may include a temperature gage so that the dryer is shut off if the temperature is above a predetermined temperature. An alternate embodiment of a monitoring system  140  is shown in  FIG. 17 . This system could have all of the features of system  130 . As above these safety features would be connected through the control panel  61 .  
      It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that there are a number of flow meters  12  that could be used in regard to any of the above systems. A few such flow meters are shown in FIGS.  17  to  20  with regard to the monitoring system  140  but it will be appreciated that these are by way of example only and that any system for measuring the flow of air in a pipe is contemplated by the inventors herein.  FIG. 18  shows a vane type flow meter  141 .  FIG. 19  shows a propellor type flow meter  142 .  FIG. 20  shows a pressure sensor/switch type flow meter  144 .  
      It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that there are number of alternate embodiments that may be employed while still achieving the above benefits. For example as shown in  FIG. 21  lint handling system  120  may be modified such that it “electrocutes” the lint passing therethrough. Lint handling system  120  includes an electrical field through which the lint is passed. As described above lint collector system  120  includes an inlet  4  and an outlet  5  with a flow meter  12  therein. In addition lint handling system  120  may also include the other monitoring features described above with the exception of the water level indicator.  
      The electrical field may be created in a variety of ways. For example as shown in  FIG. 21 a  screen  122  that extends across the pipe. Screen  122  is operably connected to a power source such that a current passes therethrough. In operation when lint passes through the electrical field it is “electrocuted”. Another example is shown in  FIG. 22  wherein a plurality of spaced apart wires  124  are positioned so as to create an electrical field. The spacing of the wires is depended on the voltage passed therethrough. The larger the voltage the further apart the wires may be spaced.  
      Referring to  FIG. 23 a  dryer  160  is shown which includes an internal lint handling system  181 . The internal handling system  161  has all of the features of lint handling system  120  but it inside the dryer  160 . Similarly it may have all of the safety features described above in regard to monitoring the flow of the exhaust air, the time that the dryer is in use and the temperature of the exhaust air. As discussed above a system to interrupt electrical power to the dryer would also be included and this may be done either externally as discussed above or internally.  
      Accordingly it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the lint collector systems  1 ,  60 ,  150 , lint “electrocuter” system  120  and monitoring systems  130  and  140  of the present invention may be arranged such that if the timer on the dryer malfunctions the dryer will be shut off since the dryer has run more than the predetermined time. Likewise if the dryer overheats or fails to shut off because the dryer drive belt breaks or the dryer motor malfunctions or the heating element malfunctions the dryer will be shut off since the temperature will be above the predetermined allowable temperature or beyond the maximum time allowable. Similarly if a duct pipe falls off or the duct becomes obstructed the dryer will be shut off. As discussed above the control panel  61  will indicate the type of malfunction either with the display  62  or indicator lights  108 .  
      It will be appreciated that the above description related to the invention by way of example only. Many variations on the invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art and such obvious variations are within the scope of the invention as described herein whether or not expressly described.  
      The present invention is illustrated by the following examples.  
     EXAMPLE 1  
      A lint collector system as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  was attached to the exhaust of a dryer, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The lint collector system was partially filled with water.  
      The internal dimensions of lower housing  3  of the lint collector system of  FIG. 1  were approximately 10 cm in height, 15 cm in depth and 35 cm in length.  
      The dryer was operated in the normal drying of household laundry. It was found that lint that passed the lint collector screen of the dryer contacted the water in the lint collector, and accumulated in the water. The accumulated water collected in the bottom of the lint collector. From time to time, e.g. after a number of loads of laundry had been dried, the lower housing of the lint collector was detached. Water was drained from the housing and the remaining mass of lint was easily removed and placed in the garbage. Subsequently, the lower housing was rinsed and the water was replenished. The lower housing was re-attached to the upper housing for further use.  
      In a further test, adhesive tape was placed in the outlet  5  of the lint collector. It was found that no lint accumulated to the adhesive tape, i.e. all lint was removed by the water.  
     EXAMPLE II  
      The procedure of Example 1 was repeated, except that the housing did not contain water. Three different types of filters were placed in the housing and attached to inlet  4  such that all exhaust air had to pass through the filters.  
      The filters tested were a nylon stocking, a paint strainer and a vacuum cleaner bag. In all instances, large dust (lint) particles were removed but passed through the screen. Attempts to filter out all particles resulted in logging of the filter and restricted air flow from the dryer.  
     EXAMPLE III  
      The procedure of Example 1 was repeated, except that the water was replaced with two-sided adhesive tape on the bottom of the lint collector.  
      The tape was effective initially in removing lint, but became covered in a layer of lint. Subsequently, the tape was in effective in removing lint.  
     EXAMPLE IV  
      A lint collector system as illustrated in  FIG. 1  was attached to the exhaust system of a dryer. The internal dimensions of lower housing  3  of the lint collector system were approximately 10 cm in height, 15 cm in depth and 35 cm in length.  
      The dryer was operated in the normal drying of household laundry. It was found that lint that passed through the dryer contacted the water in the lint collector, and accumulated in the water, as in Example 1.  
      However, it was found that the embodiment of Example IV was less susceptible to entrainment of lint passing from inlet  4  to outlet  5  of the lint collector system due to increase in air flow.