US3875268A

US3875268A - Condenser apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3875268A
Application number: US446220A
Authority: US
Inventors: Laddie A Depass
Original assignee: General Electric Co
Current assignee: General Electric Co
Priority date: 1974-02-27
Filing date: 1974-02-27
Publication date: 1975-04-01
Anticipated expiration: 1992-04-01

Abstract

Condenser apparatus for removing moisture from the air including a housing for the condenser apparatus, which housing has both a cooling liquid inlet and an air inlet at one end. Within the housing is a stack of discs mounted on a rotatable shaft that has a liquid reservoir at one end and channels that are in liquid flow communication between the reservoir and the discs and arranged such that equal quantities of liquid is distributed to each of the discs during operation of the condenser apparatus. The rotating discs form a cloud of cooling liquid droplets in a condensing chamber within the housing. At the opposite end of the condenser housing from the inlet is an air outlet and a rotatable blower. Located between the blower and the rotatable discs is a rotatable water wheel for collecting entrained liquid droplets before they pass into the blower. Circumferentially around the rotatable water wheel is a liquid pump that removes liquid from the condenser apparatus. An electric motor is utilized for rotatably driving all of the rotating elements. The condenser apparatus is utilized particularly in an automatic clothes dryer wherein hot moisture-laden air that has been passed over the fabrics to be dried is introduced into the condenser apparatus which reduces the temperature of the air when it passes through the liquid droplet cloud to condense moisture therefrom and then recirculates the air again through the clothes dryer.

Description

United States Patent 11 1 DePass 1 1 CONDENSER APPARATUS Laddie A. DePass. Louisville. Ky.

[73] Assignee: General Electric Company.

Louisville. Ky.

[22 Filed: Feb. 27. 1974 [21] Appl. No.; 446.220

[75] Inventor:

34/77. 239/224 [51] Int. Cl Btlld 47/l6 (58] Field of Search 34/72-78. 83,

Primary liiumincrKenneth W. Sprague Axsirlum [:Iruminew-James C. Yeung [57} ABSTRACT Condenser apparatus for removing moisture from the 451 Apr. 1,1975

air including a housing for the condenser apparatus. which housing has both a cooling liquid inlet and an air inlet at one end. Within the housing is a stack of discs mounted on a rotatable shaft that has a liquid reservoir at one end and channels that are in liquid flow communication between the reservoir and the discs and arranged such that equal quantities of liquid is distributed to each of the discs during operation of the condenser apparatus. The rotating discs form a cloud of cooling liquid droplets in a condensing chamber within the housing. At the opposite end of the condenser housing from the inlet is an air outlet and a rotatable blower. Located between the blower and the rotatable discs is a rotatable water wheel for collecting entrained liquid droplets before they pass into the blower. Circumferentially around the rotatable water wheel is a liquid pump that removes liquid from the condenser apparatus. An electric motor is utilized for rotatably driving all of the rotating elements. The condenser apparatus is utilized particularly in an automatic clothes dryer wherein hot moisture-laden air that has been passed over the fabrics to be dried is introduced into the condenser apparatus which reduces the temperature of the air when it passes through the liquid droplet cloud to condense moisture therefrom and then recirculates the air again through the clothes drYer.

12 Claims. 7 Drawing Figures l. held of the Invention lhis in\ention relates to condenser apparatus. and more particularly ttcondenser apparatus for utili/ation in an automatic clothes dryer so that warm m i ture lad'en air from the clothes dryer is cooled and moi ture remo\ ed therefrom 2. Description ot the Prior Art ln automatic clothes dryers it is common to unit the warm moisture-laden exhaust air or \apor outside the machine and preferably e\en outside the house or building while air is constantly being introduced into the clothes dryer. heated and passed over the fabrics to be dried. It is not. howe\ er. alu ays possible and. in fact. it may not be desirable to provide such a venting system for automatic clothes dryers in apartments or other high rise housing establishments. in drying fabrics in a clothes dryer it is highly desirable to be able to heat the air. pass the heated air over the fabrics to be dried and withdraw moisture therefrom. remove the hot mois tare-laden air from the fabrics and introduce it into an apparatus that lowers the temperature of the moistureladen air thereby condensing out moisture from the air. then recirculate the air through the clothes dryer.

Condensing apparatus has been utilized in laundry machines. both combination clothes washers and dryers and automatic clothes dryers. for many years. One such condensing apparatus is shown in US. Pat. No. 2.45 l .(i92 wherein moist air is passed through a water spray from a nozzle that is also used to effect movement of the air; the free water from the spray is to be removed by a stationary screen. Another type of con densing apparatus disclosed in US. Pat. No. 2.785.557 wherein only a controlled portion of the moist air is passed through a dehumidifier. US. Pat. No. 192L384 shows apparatus that uses an impeller to circulate air that also has the cooling water discharged directly against the impeller. however. there is no free water collection means provided. US. Pat. No. 312L000 utilizes a condensing arrangement that produces a coherent film of water on a channel wall to a\oid entrainment of water droplets.

Condenser apparatus for automatic clothes dryers must be efficient in operation. low in manufacturing cost. and economical to operate in order to make it desirable. Moreover. it should be compact and of a size such that it can be easily installed in present standard size clothes dryers.

To accomplish the above-mentioned desirable characteristics in a condenser apparatus. one of the main areas that has needed improvement is a means for producing a highly effective liquid droplet cloud through which the hot moisture-laden air from the dryer is passed. Such a droplet producing means must be capable of forming a high concentration of discreet rela tively large liquid droplets to lower the temperature of ratus may be utilized in an automatic clothes dryer it is desirable to minimize expelling free liquid from the condenser apparatus into the clothes dryer system. Moreover. since the condenser dryer may be adapted for installation into present standard size clothes dryers. the condensing chamber containing the liquid droplet cloud must necessarily be limited in axial length. Therefore. to accomplish the necessary air cooling ov er the limited axial length. the liquid droplet dispersion means directly affects the efficiency of the entire condenser apparatus and the clothes dryer wherein it is utilized.

Rotating discs for producing liquid droplets have been used in apparatus for humidifying air. See. for ex ample. L'S. Pat. No. l.73tl t 66 where atomized water impinges upon the disc downstream ofthe fan to be fur ther broken up into a fine mist or vapor. L'.S. Pat. No. l.9l4.8l2 also uses a disc downstream of the fan to spread finely divided water particles throughout the atmosphere of a room. The arrangements shown in those patents. however. are specifically to provide for increasing the amount of moisture by producing finely divided water particles and expelling them from a humidifier into a room for humidification.

Multiple rotating discs have also been used to produce liquid droplets. See for example. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3.282.575 and 3.276.189. 'fhese patents. however. do not provide any means for distributing equal quantities ofliquid to each ofthe discs. Without such equal distribution of liquid the efficiency of the discs in producing liquid droplets is detrimentally affected.

SUMMARY OF THE INYEN'I'ION ln condenser apparatus for removing moisture from the air by passing moisture-laden air through a condensing chamber having a cloud of cooling liquid droplets that are formed by liquid being thrown centrifugally from surfaces of a plurality of discs. there is pro vided an improved liquid droplet forming device. The improved device includes a rotatable liquid reservoir. a stack of axially spaced discs mounted on a rotatable shaft. and at least one channel for each disc in liquid flow communication between the reservoir and a liquid passageway from the channel to the surface of the re spective' disc. The channels have their forward ends terminated at the reservoir in alignment as viewed in a plane perpindicular to the shafts axis of rotation and with the portions of the channels in the reservoir all substantially the same width and equally spaced.

Liquid from the reservoir is distributed to the chan nels and is acted upon by centrifugal force which causes it to flow in the channels to the liquid passageway of the respective disc where it passes through the passageway and onto the rotating disc. then mot es to the periphery of the disc to be radially thrown from the periphery in the form of droplets.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved rotatable multiple disc arrangement for producing liquid droplets.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved rotatable multiple disc arrangement for producing liquid droplets for use in condenser apparatus which in turn may be used in an automatic clothes dryer.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an improved rotatable multiple disc arrangement for produc- BRll-il DFSURIP'I'ION ()l-' 'l Hl-'. DRAWINGS l-l(ii l is a side cleyational \icw' of an automatic clothes dryer suitahlc for incorporation of the condenser apparatus utili/ing the present imention. the \iew being partly broken away and partly in section to illustrate details.

l-'l(i. 2 is a \iew taken along the lines ol FIG. 1 showing the condenser apparatus installed in thc tttllumatie clothes dryer.

l"l(i. 3 is a side clevational. cross-sectional yiew of the condenser apparatus utili/ing the invention l-'l(i. 4 is a partially cut away perspective view of the stack ol multiple discs.

FIG. 5 is a crosssectional iew ol' the rotatable shalt taken in a \crtical plane through the central longitudinal a\is ol the shalt.

l-l(i. (i is an enlarged cross-sectional view olthe rt tatable shaft as viewed in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal a\is of the shaft taken along lines 6' 6 ol l-'l(i 5.

l-lti. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional \iew ol how the discs are mounted on the shalt Referring now to the drawings and initially to l"l(i. l thereot'. there is illustrated a domestic automatic clothes dryer Ill including an appearance and protecthe outer cabinet ll ha\iitg a door or closure l2 to pro\ idc access into the interior ol the cabinet for load iug and unloading labrics. Pro ided on the top I3 ol cabinet I1 is a control housing 14 which may. in a con- \entional way. include a suitable manual control 15 connected to a control assembly In ntounted in the control housing l4. By manual setting ol control 15. the machine may be caused to start and automatically proceed through a cycle operation.

Within cabinet ll. there is prmided a clothes tumbling container or drum l7 mounted for rotation on a substantially hori/ontal asis. Drum I7 is substantially cylindrical in shape. haying a central cylindrical wall portion l8. and outer cylindrical wall portions 1) and 20. located respecthcly adjacent an annular front wall 2| and a circular rear wall 22 ol the drum. Wall portions I8. I) and are impcrl'orate while rear wall 22 ltas a plurality of wrtorations 33. ()n the interior stirlacc of wall portion l8 there is a plurality olclothes tumbling ribs 23 so that clothes are lifted up when the drum rotates. and then permitted to tumble back down to the bottom ol the drunr the front of the drum l7 may he rotatahly supported within outer cabinet II by suitable slide members or idler wheels. one of the latter of w inch is indicated by the numeral 24.

lhc rear end of drum l7 recei\es its support by means of a stub shalt 27 e\tending from the center of wall 22. Shal't 27 is secured within a bearing 28 mounted in a battle like structure 2) which. in turn. is

rigidly secured to the back wall 3|) ot the cabinet ll.

In order to provide for the flow of drying air through the clothes drum. it is pro\ided with a central aperture 32 in the trout wall 2] and a plurality of perforations 33 in the rear wall 22. lhe air provided to the drum is heated as by an electrical resistance heating element 37. the element being the form shown in the drawings. which issues from the outlet 34 olthe heating unit 35. Heating unit 35 includes a heater housing 36 and the electrical resistance heating element 37. hi the conven tional way air is drawn into the heating unit 35 through an inlet opening 38 (FIG. 2) and is warmed as it passes over and through the electrical resistance heating element 37 and then out the heater outlet 34.

The outlet end 34 of the heating unit communicates with an upwardly estcnding duct 45. which enters a generally circular heat dil'l'user chamber 47 formed between the structure 2) and tlte rear wall 22 of drum 17. A flexible circumferential seal 39 is interposed between member 29 and rear wall 22 of the drum to proride a rear drum airseal and is secured to member 2) and contacts the rear wall of the rotating drum. 'lhe heated air llows from the chamber 47 through the perforations 33 into the interior of the drum l7.

l'he front opening 32 ot' the drum is substantially closed by means of a bulkhead generally indicated by the muneral 50. Bulkhead 50 is made up of a number ot adjacent members including the inner surface 51 ol the access door [2. a stationary frame 52 formed as a flange on front wall 46 of the cabinet and a front door lincr 42.

A transition duct 62 is formed by joining together can ity member 54 and ca ity member 53 at an annular llange 55. It will he noted that a suitable clearance is provided between the inner edge ol aperture 32 and the edge of lrame 52 so that there is no rubbing between the drum and the frame during rotation ofthe drum. In order to pre\ent substantial air leakage through the ap erture 32. a suitable front drum ring seal 56 is secured to the llange ()5 in scaling relationship with the esterior surt'ace ol the drum wall 2].

Door I2 is mounted on cabinet ll so that when the door is opened l'ahrics may be inserted into and re moi ed from the drum through the door frame 52.

The air outlet from the drum is provided by a perforated opening 59 formed in the inner wall 5] of the hollow door. The bottom wall section of door l2 and the adjacent wall ot door frame 52 are prmided with aligned openings (ill and (11. opening 6| pro iding an entrance to the duct 62. A lint trap ()3 may be posi tioned in the duct 62 within opening (rl and supported by the door frame 52. Duet (12 leads downwardly and communicates with condenser housing 64. It is within the condenser housing that the hot moisture-laden air is cooled which causes moisture to be removed from the air prior to reintroducing the air into the heating unit 35 and then recirculated through the clothes dryer.

With relercnce to HUS. l and 3 in particular. the op eration and construction of the condenser apparatus will now be e\plained. lhe condenser apparatus includes a housing ()4 which is cylindrical or drum shaped and has an air inlet (in located at the front of the condenser unit which is also near the front of the clothes dryer. Hot moistorc laden air lroni the drum is introduced into the condenser unit through the air inlet 66 by a transition duct ()2 tl-l(i. It betw een the drum and the air inlet. Also located at the same end ol the con denser housing 64 is a liquid inlet means 70 which may co|i\enicutl\ he .i hose oi tiihnlar conduit 72 supported h structure 74 seemed in a suitahle fashion to the colt denser housing I he structure 74 secures and positions the tuhnlai conduit 72 suhstantiallv on the longitudinal ;t \ls of the condenser housing 64 with the end 73 ofthe conduit 72 directed into the condenser apparatus. l he liqtiid iiitioduced into the condenser apparatus li v means of the tuhular conduit 72 passes through a solciioid operated control valve tiiot shown) and is in the lorin of a stream l he liqtiid is furnished from a source external ot the clothes dr \er such as a household fau ceI.

Spaced a\iall\ from the liquid inlet means 70 is my improved multiple disc liquid droplet forming dc\icc lhc details of the device can he clearl seen in HUS. 4 7. A iotatahle shalt l-Itl has a rear portion I42 adapted to iecene the motor shaft I|5 as h a i'eceiv iiig ca\|t I44 that accommodates the motor shaft which that he secured thereto h an suitahle means. such as a set \L'IL\\ (not shown). 'l'his securement then provides for rotation of the shaft I along with rotation of the motor shaft IIS when the motor is cner' gi/ed 'l he toiwaid portion I46 of shaft I40 has a liquid reservoir I48 that ma he integrall formed with the shaft and is adapted to recehe liquid from the liquid suppl means 70. 'l o accomplish introduction of liquid into the reservoir I48 there is a hollow end connector I50 that is suitahl) secured at one end to the forward ortion I46 ol'shaft I40. I he connector I5" has an end wall I5I with an opening I53 at the end opposite the shaft which is utili/ed to receive the end 7. oftlie liquid conduit means 72. In this niaiuiei then liquid llowing from the liquid supplv means through conduit 72 passes into connector I50 and hv ctuninunicatioii hetween connector ISII and the reservoir I48 liquid is provided to the ie er\oii I48.

A nunihei of channels that ma he in the form olgrooves I52 are located around the outer surface I54 of shaft I40. l hese grooves I52 haie their forward ends I55 terminated at the rescr\oir I48 in alignment as icwcd in a plane perpendicular to the shafts asis of iotation l his plane is designated A in l( i. 5. 'I he poi tion of the grooves in the resenoii' I48 are all ofsuh slantiallv the same width and equally spaced around the shaft. While the portion of the groo\es not in the rcseiioii' may he of \;ii' viiig shapes and dimensions. in the prclcrrcd enihodimeut these gromes are come nientl cut or otherwise formed in the shaft I40 and are suhstantiall parallel to the a\is of rotation of the shaft. Ihese groo\ es throughout their length are also of suhstanliallt the same width at the top I56 where the groines I52 and the outer surface I54 of the shaft meet and the hottom I58 of the grooves are also suhstair tiallv the same width and can he of an configuration. lhe gii-oves should. of course. he dimensioned to ac commodate a sutficicnt amount of liquid for the de ired liquid flow Positioned on and secured to the shaft 14" are a nunihei ol discs I60. which |na con\cnientl all he of the same configuration. l'ach disc I60 has a huh I62 through which the iotatahle shaft I4II passes. I'he discs are dished and It:|\e .i L't lllttllltttls wall I64 slanting upwaidlv .iud oul\\.udl\ relative to the huh I62 with the inside suilacc I6l facing toward the shaft reservoir I48. Ihe continuous wall I64 terminates at a circttlar hp oi pciiphei I66. IIIL ieaiward suifacc I68 of the continuous wall I64 has a circular collar portion I70 III vIt

till

projecting rearward and is slightl) larger in diameter than the huh I62. lhe huh I62 of each disc has at least one aperture I72 through the huh forwardl ofthe continuous wall I64 of the disc.

The discs |6II are placed on the rotatahle shaft I40 h v passing the shaft through the respective liuhs. 'lhc discs are secured in any suitahle manner to the rotat ahle shaft I4II such that the aperture I72 through the huh I62 is in alignment with a groove I52 in the rotatahle shaft. liach aperture I72 heing aligned with a dif' ferent groove I52 should he large enough to allow the desired amount of liquid to flow through them. With reference particularly to I"l(i. 7. when the discs are mounted on the shaft they are spaced apart h the terminal end I of huh I64 ahutting a shoulder I67 of the Iitih on the nest successive stacked disc at joining area I69. I55 this structure there is provided a liquid llow passageway from the groove I52 to the inside stirface I6| of the disc wall I64. As shown h v arrows in ll(i. 7 the liqtiid from the groove I52 flows through aperture I72 of the huh into a circumferential channel area I73 formed hetween two adjoining discs and onto the disc inside surface I6I. II) this alignment then liquid flowing along a groove is in coninninication with its rotatahle disc through the respective aperture I72. Preferahlv each disc I60 will have two apertures I72 through the huh I62 and they should he opposite each other. This means then that two grooves will he in communication with each disc through the two respeetue apertures The reason for this arrangement is that hetter distrihtition of liquid to the continuous wall I64 of the discs I6" is accomplished, As shown in l'I(iS. 4. 5

and 6 in m preferred enihodiment. a multiple stack of discs includes six discs and the rotatahle shaft I40 has two grooves per each disc. It will he appreciated that each disc is oriented so that two different grooves are utili/cd per disc.

The operation of my multiple stack disc arrangement is as follows: During operation of the condenser apparatus with the motor energived shaft IIS will rotate rotatahle shaft 140 carrying with it all of the stacked discs I60 and also the connector I50. As liquid is introduced through the liqtiid inlet means through conduit 72 into the connector I50 the liquid will pass into shaft reservoir I48 and by centrifugal force form a film or sheet ofliquid around the inner wall surface I74 of the reservoir and will flow rearwardlv until it contacts the portion of the grooves I52 in reservoir I48. The liquid is caused to enter the grooves hv centrifugal force as the grooves rotate with the shaft. 'lhe shaft reservoir may have a cone shaped rearward wall I76 to help di rect the liquid into the grooves. l'hese grooves provide a channel through which the liquid will flow into the mounted disc area. The liquid flowing tltrottgh the grooves continues h v centrifugal force rearward until it reaches the disc that has its aperture I72 aligned and in comnuinication with that respective groove whereupon again h v centrifugal force the liquid will he forced through the aperture and disc passageway onto the in side surface I6l of the continuous wall I64 thereof. It should he noted that what is accomplished In this groom and disc arrangement is that equal quantities of liquid are .'iutoinatieall v measured and distrihuted to each of the a\iall v stacked discs, The operation of forming the liquid droplets with this asiallv stacked disc :u'raiigenient will he deserihed later.

At the opposite end of the condenser housing 64 from the liquid inlet means is a blower 78 for inducing air to flow from the air inlet 66 to an air outlet 80. The blower 78 not only induces air flow through the condenser apparatus but causes the air to flow through the entire clothes dryer so that only a single blower is needed The blower in this embodiment consists of a rotatable blower wheel ha\ ing a plurality of blades 82 secured as by molding to circular plate 83 and a confining air space 84 surrounding the blower wheel for de- \cloping sufficient air pressure within the blower to induce the abo\e-mentioned air flow through the entire clothes dryer including the condenser unit. Positioned within the condenser housing 64 and located between the stack of multiple rotatable discs 76 and the blower 78 is a liquid droplet collecting means 86 which in the present preferred embodiment described is in the form of a rotatable water wheel having a plurality of spaced blades 88 which extend radially outward from the a\is of rotation of the wheel. The axial depth of blades 88 is such that they extend from the blower wheel 78 into the condensing chamber 90. The blades 88 are integrally fornted with a hub 92 and are spaced so that air flowing through the condenser apparatus may flow through the spaces between the radial blades 88 and into the blower. Surrounding the water droplet collecting means 86 is a pump 94 w hich consists of a rotatable L'-shaped inner wall 96 and a stationary outer pump wall 98 which cooperate with each other to pro\ide a pump cavity 100 therebetween. The outer pump wall 98 may be integrally formed with the condenser housing Also forming one part of the pump )4 is a circumferential wall member 9) that is stationary and secured to the inside of the condenser housing and inwardly depending therefrom. Rotation of the inner pump wall 96 forces the liquid to be accelerated circumferentially by rotational force and discharged through the pump discharge outlet 102. The discharge outlet 102 (FIG. 2| is connected by suitable means to a drain outside of the clothes dryer.

Located at the bottom of the condenser housing 6-5 is a sump 104 which performs as an auyiliary liquid discharge outlet from the condenser apparatus should the pump 94 fail to operate. The sump 104 consists of a reservoir 106 formed by surrounding a wall area [08. Plumbing codes generally require a sufficient air gap in association with the water inlet. so that if a negative pressure is produced in the water line. only air will be taken in. For this purpose. the sump may have a liquid discharge outlet (not show it) arranged to be spaced from and located below the liquid inlet means 73 to prmide an air gap therebetween. lf desired. means for discontinuing operation of the condenser apparatus responshe to the auxiliary liquid discharge may be proided. One such means could be an esternally located float mechanism acti ated by o\ertlow liquid discharged from the condenser.

At the rear of the condenser housing 64 is a rear wall 110 which forms part of the condenser housing. The rear w all llll together with cylindrical wall section ll 1 of housing 64 and inwardly directed circular flange 113 form the blower chamber 84. Secured to the rear wall 110 on the opposite side from the blower chamber 84 is an electric motor 112 which may be suitably attached to the rear wall as by bolts H4. The electric motor has a rotatable shaft extending through an aperture 116 in the rear wall 110 close to the central longitudinal axis Ill ofthe condenser apparatus. Secured to this motor shaft 1 l5. which extends into the condenser housing. are the four rotatable elements of the condenser apparatus. namely. the blower 78. the water droplet collecting means or water wheel 86. inner wall 96 of the pump 94 and the stacl. of multiple discs 76. The single motor 112 rotatably drives all four of these condenser apparatus elements. l

The motor shaft also extends rearward of the motor in the opposite direction from the condenser apparatus and is utilized to rotate drum 1?. In order to effect this rotation. motor H2 is provided with a shaft ortion 118 having a small pulley 120 secured to the end thereofv Around the pulley 120 and seated in grome l2l and entirely around the cylindrical wall section 18 of drum 17 is a mo\ able belt 122. The relative circumference ofthe pulley I20 and the wall section 18 of the drum [7 causes the drum to be driven by the motor at a speed suitable to effect tumbling of fabrics to be dried in the drum In order to effect proper tensioning of the belt 122. a suitable idler assembly 124 is secured to the same support 126 which supports one end of the motor.

The air e iting the condenser apparatus through air outlet 80 passes \ia duct 128 into the heating unit 35 for heating the air and recirculating it into the clothes dryer drum 17.

The operation of the condenser and dryer apparatus is as follows: Hot moisture-laden air that has been passed through the clothes dryer drum and picked up moisture from the fabrics tumbled therein is introduced into the condenser unit through the air inlet opening 66 hile a stream of cooling liquid is being introduced into the condenser unit through tubular conduit 72. When the condenser apparatus is operating the electric motor pro\ides for simultaneous rotation of the blower 78. droplet collecting water wheel 86. inner wall 96 of pump 94 and disc 76. As the stacked axially spaced discs 160 mounted on the shaft are rotated with the shaft. liquid from the grooves 152 is distributed through the respective apertures l72 of each disc onto the inside surface l6l of continuous wall 164 where it is acted upon by centrifugal force causing the liquid to spread into a film or sheet and swirl and travel up the inclined inner wall surface of the disc to the periphery I66 thereof and from there thrown outwardly in the form of liquid droplets 130. The generally radial flight of the liquid droplets [30 is interrupted by the inner surface I32 of the condensing chamber 90 whereupon the liquid droplets are deflected back toward the center of the condenser chamber. this in effect produces a curtain or cloud of liquid droplets within the condensing chamber 90 while the incoming hot moisture-laden air from the dryer drum flows through this resultant liquid droplet cloud.

With my multiple disc arrangement an equal quantity of liquid is distributed to each of the discs thus affording a highly effective liquid droplet forming operation. The hot moisture-laden air in contact with the cooler liquid droplets causes the air temperature to be lowcred and the moisture condensed therefrom. Because the air flowing through the condenser chamber 90 may entrain some liquid droplets the water droplet collecting means 86 is positioned upstream of the blower 78 between the disc 76 and blower 78 so that entrained liquid droplets are essentially collected by the rotating blades 88 and deposited in an underlying liquid bath into the condenser apparatus through the tubular conduit 72 that liquid will also he removed lrom the condenser apparatus by the pump 9-1 at a rate such that only a small amount of liquid is in the liquid hath I33 at a given time during operation ofthe condenser apparatus. The now cooled air reaches the blower 78 which applies air pressure to induce the air flow and force the air out of the condenser apparatus through air outlet 80 for introduction into the heating unit 35 and again rccirculate through the clothes dryer.

The foregoing is a description of the preferred emhodiment of the imention and \ariations may he made thereto without departing from the true spirit of the invention. as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

t. An improved liquid droplet forming device comprising:

a. a rotatable liquid reservoir.

b. a plurality ofdiscs axially stacked and spaced from each other mounted on a rotatable shaft. and a plurality olchannels with at least one channel in liquid flow communication between the reservoir and each disc. said channels having their one end terminated at the reservoir in alignment as viewed in a plane perpendicular to the shafts axis of rota tion and the portions of the channels in the reservoir all substantially the same width and equally spaced.

2. The improved liquid droplet forming device of claim 1 wherein each disc has a hub securing the disc to the shaft. said huh having an aperture therethrough in communication with a single channel.

3. The improved liquid droplet forming device of claim I wherein each disc is dished with the inside surface thereof directed toward the reservoir.

4. The improved liquid droplet forming device of claim 2 wherein two apertures are provided in the hub each on opposite sides of the hub from each other and each in communication with a single channel Ill 5. The improved liquid droplet forming device of claim 1 wherein the liquid reservoir is integrally formed with the shaft.

6. The improved liquid droplet forming device of claim I wherein the channels are grooves formed in the shaft and are parallel to the shafts axis of rotation.

7. In condenser apparatus for removing moisture from air by passing moisture-laden air through a cloud of cooling liquid droplets that have been formed by liquid being thrown centrifugally from surfaces of multiple discs. an improved l'i'quid droplet forming device comprising: i

a. a rotatable liquid reservoir.

b. a plurality of discs axially stacked and spaced from each other mounted on a rotatable shaft. and i a plurality of channels with at least one channel in liquid flow communication between the reservoir and each disc. said channels having their one end terminated at the reservoir in alignment as viewed in a plane perpendicular to the shafts axis of rotation and with the portions of the channels in the reservoir all substantially the same width and equally spaced.

8. In the condenser apparatus improvement of claim 7 wherein each disc has a hub securing the disc to the shaft, said huh having an aperture therethrough in communication with a single channelv 9. in the condenser apparatus improvement of claim 7 wherein each disc is dished with the inside surface thereof directed toward the shaft reservoir.

It). In the condenser apparatus improvement otelaim 7 wherein two apertures are provided in the hub each on opposite sides of the hub from each other and each in communication with a single channel.

H. In the condenser apparatus improvement ofclaim 7 wherein the liquid reservoir is integrally formed with the shaft.

12. In the condenser apparatus improvement ofclaim 7 wherein the channels are grooves formed in the shaft and are parallel to the shafts axis of rotation.

Claims

1. An improved liquid droplet forming device comprising: a. a rotatable liquid reservoir, b. a plurality of discs axially stacked and spaced from each other mounted on a rotatable shaft, and c. a plurality of channels with at least one channel in liquid flow communication between the reservoir and each disc, said channels having their one end terminated at the reservoir in alignment as viewed in a plane perpendicular to the shaft''s axis of rotation and the portions of the channels in the reservoir all substantially the same width and equally spaced.

2. The improved liquid droplet forming device of claim 1 wherein each disc has a hub securing the disc to the shaft, said hub having an aperture therethrough in communication with a single channel.

3. The improved liquid droplet forming device of claim 1 wherein each disc is dished with the inside surface thereof directed toward the reservoir.

4. The improved liquid droplet forming device of claim 2 wherein two apertures are provided in the hub each on opposite sides of the hub from each other and each in communication with a single channel.

5. The improved liquid droplet forming device of claim 1 wherein the liquid reservoir is integrally formed with the shaft.

6. The improved liquid droplet forming device of claim 1 wherein the channels are grooves formed in the shaft and are parallel to the shaft''s axis of rotation.

7. In condenser apparatus for removing moisture from air by passing moisture-laden air through a cloud of cooling liquid droplets that have been formed by liquid being thrown centrifugally from surfaces of multiple discs, an Improved liquid droplet forming device comprising: a. a rotatable liquid reservoir, b. a plurality of discs axially stacked and spaced from each other mounted on a rotatable shaft, and c. a plurality of channels with at least one channel in liquid flow communication between the reservoir and each disc, said channels having their one end terminated at the reservoir in alignment as viewed in a plane perpendicular to the shaft''s axis of rotation and with the portions of the channels in the reservoir all substantially the same width and equally spaced.

8. In the condenser apparatus improvement of claim 7 wherein each disc has a hub securing the disc to the shaft, said hub having an aperture therethrough in communication with a single channel.

9. In the condenser apparatus improvement of claim 7 wherein each disc is dished with the inside surface thereof directed toward the shaft reservoir.

10. In the condenser apparatus improvement of claim 7 wherein two apertures are provided in the hub each on opposite sides of the hub from each other and each in communication with a single channel.

11. In the condenser apparatus improvement of claim 7 wherein the liquid reservoir is integrally formed with the shaft.

12. In the condenser apparatus improvement of claim 7 wherein the channels are grooves formed in the shaft and are parallel to the shaft''s axis of rotation.