US3545235A - Combination clothes washer and dryer - Google Patents

Description

l f COMBINATION. CLOTHES' WASHER4 AND DRYER Filed Feb.'11 196s- '3 "sheets-sheet 1 ATTORNEY 1 M, A. MENK` 3,545,235 cOMBiNATIoN CLOTHES WASHER/ND DRYER Dec.v 8,v 1970 s shetsfsheet z Filed Feb; 11, 1969- 13e.fs, 197o` M. A. MENA` 3,545,235

COMBINATION CLOTHES WASHER AND DRYER Filed Feb. 1.1.,` 1969 3 sheets-sheet z j ATTORNEY' "United States Patent Office 3,545,235 COMBINATION CLOTHES WASHER AND DRYER Melvin A. Menk, Englewood, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 11, 1969, Ser. No. 798,289 Int. Cl. D06f 29/00 U.S. Cl. 68-19.2 6 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a domestic appliance and more particularly to an improved vertically stacked combination washer and dryer of compact design wherein the dryer is of a front loading type and the washer of a top loading type.

One of the objections to a separate washer and dryer is the floor space necessary for such multiple appliances. This invention is directed to acombination appliance of the type wherein the dryer is stacked on top of a top opening clothes washer, thereby reducing the floor space utilized.

One of the objections to vertically stacked washer-dryer combinations is the overall height occasioned by the incompataibility of a top loading washer with a dryer located thereabove. Prior arrangements have provided a washer movable out from under the dryer so as to provide access to the top loading opening of the washer. Other prior art arrangements have provided a dryer excessively vertically spaced from the top of the washer to provide a spacial relationship whereby the lid of the washer may be fully opened. This is undesirable as it increases the overall height of the combined units. Others have located the dryer excessively rearwardly from the front of the washer but this increases the overall depth of the combined units.

One object of the subject invention is a novel arrangement providing a vertically stacked combination washer and dryer efficiently utilizing the height, depth, and floor space needed for the combined units.

In view of etlicient utilization of the `vertical space requirements of the improved combination top loading Washer and dryer, another object of this invention is the positioning of the operating mechanism of the dryer between the top of the washer and the dryer drum.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a slanted lower front surface of the dryer so as to provide a spacial relationship between the washer and dryer permitting a sufficient opening of the top loading washer lid for loading and unloading the washer.

Another object of the present invention is the location of an access opening to a front loading dryer at about shoulder height above an access opening to a top loading washer to facilitate removing clothes from the washer and directly inserting them into the dryer.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of vertically stacked combination washer-dryer with the controls of both the washer and dryer located at about eye level height.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention Patented Dec. 8, 1970 will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying `drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. l is a front view, putting in elevation and partly in section, the combination washer-dryer with parts cut away to show parts of the washer and dryer;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side View, partly in elevation and partly in section, with parts cut away to show parts of the dryer;

FIG. 3 is a plan View along lines 3 3 of FIG. l with parts broken away;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the combination washerdryer with parts cut away, with the dryer lint filter exploded and with the dryer exhaust shown in dotted lines.

In accordance with this invention and with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, a vertically stacked combination washer-dryer, or domestic laundry center, 2 is illustrated. The appliance is comprised of a clothes washer or article washing machine 4 and a clothes dryer or article drying machine 6 located directly above the washing machine 4. Casing means 8 enclose the washer and dryer. The clothes washer 4 has an outer cabinet portion 10 of the casing means 8. Located within the outer cabinet portion 10 is a snubber ring washing machine suspension 12 as taught in a copending Pat. No. 3,493,118 assigned to the same assignee as this invention. Supported on the washing machine suspension 12 is an outer tub 14 and an inner tub. The inner tub is a light weight integrally molded plastic unit forming a spin tub 16 and an agitator 17, the tub having a top opening 15. Also supported by the washing machine suspension 12 is a washing machine oscillating and spin driving mechanism 18 driven by a motor 19 and which is the subject of a copending application Ser. No. 798,298 assigned to the same assignee as this invention. This washing machine drive mechanism provides, through a slider crank mechanism 18a driven by a pulley system 18b, an oscillating motion for the integral spin tub and agitator for washing. The drive mechanism also provides, through a roller drive train 18e, a rotary motion for the integral spin tub and agitator during spin drying. While the above copending applications describe a speci-tic washing mechanism to be utilized in practicing the preferred for-m of this invention, it should be noted that any vtype of top loading washing machine can be utilized in practicing the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the top surface or wall 20 of the washing machine cabinet 10. The washing machine cabinet is formed with a front wall 22, side walls 24 and 26 and a rear wall 28. Each of the walls 22, 24, 26 and 28 has an inwardly turned ilange 32, 34, 36 and 38 respectively at the top edge thereof. The washing machine cabinet top surface 20 is supported on inwardly turned flanges 32, 34 and 36. The rear edge 40 of the washingmachine top surface 20 is spaced forwardly of the rear wall 28. This provides an elongated opening 41 between the ilanges 34, 36 and 38 and the rear edge 40 of the washing machine top surface 20. The purpose for this elongated opening 41 will be described hereinafter. Centrally located in the washing machine top surface 20 is an access opening 42 through which clothes are inserted into and removed from the washing machine spin tube 16. The washing machine access opening 42 has a straight rear edge 44 spaced from the rear edge 40 of the top surface 20 and parallel thereto. A top opening lid 46 is located directly above the washer access opening 42 to provide a closure for the access opening. In the preferred form, the top opening lid 46 is made of plastic and has two extending pins 48 integrally molded at the rear corners. The two pins 48 act as hinges for the lid 46 whereby the lid 46 can be pivoted between a closed position and an open position. Mounted toward the front center of the lid is a metal plate 50 which cooperates with a magnet 69 to hold the lid in its open position.

Located immediately above clothes washer 4 is a clothes dryer 6. The clothes dryer has a cabinet portion 60 of the casing means 8 and is mounted above the elongated opening 41 formed by the washing machine cabinet 10. The dryer cabinet portion 60 is mounted on the inwardly turned flanges 34 and 36 of the washing machine cabinet 10. The dryer cabinet portion 60 has vertical side walls 62 and 64 located in the same vertical plane as the side walls 24 and 26 respectively of the washing machine cabinet portion 10. The dryer cabinet 60 also has a front wall formed of a substantially Vertical upper portion 66 and a slanted or non-vertical lower portion 68. The dryer cabinet portion 60 also has a rear panel 70. The rear panel 70 has an indented portion 72 having perforations 73 at its lower edge. Mounted on the rear panel 70 behind the indented portion 72 is a heater panel 74 carrying a plurality of electric heaters 76 located within a heater cavity formed by the heater panel 74 and the indented portion 72 of the rear panel 70. The heater cavity may also act as a duct between a gas burner and the interior of the clothes treatment enclosure in a gas version. Located behind the heater panel 74 is a heater vent panel 78. The rear panel 70 with the indented portion 72, the heater panel 74, and the heater vent panel 78 are connected together as a unit and mounted on rear llanges of the side walls of the dryer cabinet 60 so that all three panels can be easily removable as a unitary structure. The rear panel 70 is also provided with another indentation forming a raised projection 80. The raised projection 80 is semi-circular and joins with the top edge to the indented portion 72 so as to form a circular ledge.

Mounted behind the vertical portion 66 of the front wall of the dryer cabinet is a stationary front portion and seal support member 82 of the clothes treatment enclosure FIG. 2). The vertical portion 66 of the closed dryer cabinet has a rearwardly directed flange 84 which forms a dryer access opening 86. The stationary front portion 82 mounted on a vertical axis so as to form a closure for the dryer access opening 6. The stationary front portion 82 extends rearwardly and angularly away from the forwardly directed flange 84 to a rearwardly facing cylindrical horizontal flange 90 of the same diameter as the circular ledge formed by the indented portion 72 and the raised projection 80 of the rear panel 70. The top of the flange 90 is positioned near the top wall of the dryer cabinet portion 60 of the casing 8. The bottom portion of the flange 90 is positioned downwardly and rearwardly from the lower portion of the dryer access opening 86. The lower portion of the stationary front portion 82 joining the lower portion of the dryer access opening 86 and the lower portion of the ange 90 is provided with a plurality of perforations 83. This portion of the stationary front portion 82 and the lower slanted portion 68 of the dryers front wall join together to form an air exhaust passageway 108.

Located within the dryer cabinet is a rotating drum 94. The drum 94 is cylindrical and imperforate. The drum 94 also has the same cross sectional diameter as the cylinf drical horizontal flange 90 of the stationary front portion 82 and the cylindrical ledge of the rear panel 70 formed by the indented portion 72 and the raised projection 80. The drum 94 is positioned by circular roller grooves or tracks 91 on four fixedly supported rollers 92 so that the front edge of the drum is adjacent the cylindrical horizontal flange 90 and the rear edge of the drum is adjacent the cylindrical ledge of the rear panel 70. The drum 94 is separated from the cylindrical flange 90 of the stationary front portion or seal support member 82 by a T-shaped felt seal 96. The drum 94 is also separated from the circular rear ledge by a T-shaped seal 98. Thus, the stationary front portion 82, the stationary rear panel 70, and

the rotating drum 94 form a three-piece clothes treatment enclosure located within the dryer cabinet 60.

A belt encircles the drum 94 and is driven by a prime mover including a motor 102 and a power shaft 103. The power shaft 103 directly drives a blower 104 and the belt 100. As the blower 104 is driven air is impelled through an air flow duct system as follows. Air is drawn through rear louvers 99 in the heater vent panel 78, through openings 75 in the heater panel 74, past the heaters 76, where it is heated, then through the perforations 73 of the indented portion 72 and diagonally through the dryer drum 94 to the perforations 83 located in the lower part of the stationary front portion 82. Located behind these last-named perforations 83 is a lint filter 106 located in the exhaust passageway 108 formed between the stationary front portion 82 and the lower slanted portion 68 of the dryer cabinet front wall. The air drawn through the perforations 83 of the lower part of the stationary front portion 82 passes through the lint lter 106 and the passageway 108 to the blower 104 and s then exhausted from the dryer cabinet through a side or rear exhaust 110, as shown in FIG. 4. The drive for the belt 100 is located between the motor 102 and the blower 104 to aid in compacting this drive assembly. This drive assembly is located beneath and to one side of the drum 94 to provide for an eicient utilization of the space between the exhaust passageway 108 and the rear panel 70 of the dryer cabinet 60.

As shown in FIGS. l, 2 and 3, the clothes dryer 6 is located directly above the clothes washer 4 so as to form a combination washer-dryer. 'I'he height of the clothes washer is 34.15 inches while the height of the clothes dryer cabinet is 31.60 inches. As there is no vertical spacing between the Washer and dryer units, the total height of the combination may thus be liimted to 65.75 inches. The

side walls for both the washing machine and the dryer are in vertical planes 24 inches apart in the preferred practice of the invention. The depth from the front wall 22 including trim to the rear wall 28 of the washing machine is 24 inches, while the dryer has a front 66 to back 70 depth of 17.32 inches and a total depth of 18.38 inches including a boss 116. The back of the dryer, including the boss 116 on the heater vent panel 78, is positioned approximately 3.11 inches rearwardly of the back wall of the washing machine giving a total depth of 27.11 inches for the combination Washer-dryer. This positions the vertical portion 66 of the front wall of the dryer cabinet in a vertical plane approximately 8.73 inches rearwardly of the vetrical plane of the front wall 22 of the washing machine cabinet. Also, approximately 8.145 inches of the base of the dryer 4 will rest on the washer above the elongated opening 41. When the dryer is in this position the lower bottom edge of the rearwardly slanting slanted portion 68 of the dryer cabinet will be adjacent to the rear edge 40 of the washer cabinet top surface 20. From this position the slanted portion 68 extends forwardly and upwardly for approximately 14.25 inches at an angle of 60 degrees from the horizontal top surface 20 of the washing machine cabinet. The vetrical portion 66 of the dryer cabinet having the dryer access opening 86 then extends vertically for approximately 19.26 inches. The top opening lid 46 of the washing machine may be pivoted upwardly about the lid pivot pins 48 into an open position in a plane approximately parallel with the slanted p0rtion 68 of the dryer cabinet. It has been found in the combination that a washer lid open position of approximately 60 degrees from horizontal produces an improved casing configuration which results in adequate support for a dryer on a top portion of a washer; sufficient space within the slanted section of the dryer cabinet to accommodate a substantially full-sized horizontal drum; and sucient space outside the slanted section to facilitate convenient access to the dryer and into the interior of the washer for easy transfer of washed clothes therebetween.

By positioning the dryer slightly rearwardly of the washer cabinet, a two inch horizontal difference or gap between the back edge of the washing machine and the back wall 70 of the dryer cabinet is obtained which provides space whereby water supply pipes, drain hoses, electrical power cords and, in the case of a gas dryer, gas supply pipes may be provided access into the interior of either or both the dryer cabinet and washing cabinet portions of the casing 8. The water supply pipes, drain hoses and power supply for the washer would extend through this space between the rear walls of the dryer and washer and then through the elongated opening 41 shown in FIG. 3 into the interior of the washing machine cabinet 10. The elongated opening 41 also provides a passageway whereby the washing machine mechanism may be connected to various washing machine controls 112 located at eye level at the top front of the dryer cabinet. The dryer controls 113 are also located at eye level. The controls 112 and 113 are positioned in control compartments 114 formed by spacing the upper portion of the stationary front wall 82 from the vertical portion 66of the front Wall of the dryer cabinet.

The combination clothes washer described above is a compact unit wherein the dryer 6 is located directly above the washer 4. The controls for both units are located at eye level while the front access opening of the dryer is located at shoulder height. Furthermore, the front access opening 86 is located rearwardly from the front wall 22 of the washer in a vertical plane passing through the washer access opening 42 and tub opening 15 therebelow. With this relationship between the dryer access opening 86 and the washer access opening 42, it is possible to re-` move clothes from the washing machine spin tub 16 and insert them into the clothes treatment enclosure of the dryer 6 with the least possible movement. This relationship is possible due to the compact design of the dryer and its relationship with the washing machine 4. The positioning of the exhaust passageway 108 of the dryer along with the compact prime mover means also facilitates a spacial relationship between the slanted front wall 68 of the clothes dryer and the horizontal top surface 20 of the washer. This spacial relationship permits the pivoting of the top opening lid `46 of the washer into an open position approximately 60` degrees from horizontal. With the lid 46 opened to this position, sufficient access is available to the washing machine spin tub 16. At the same time there is suicient depth to the dryer cabinet portion 60 for the clothes treatment enclosure without necessitating either spacing the dryer vertically or rearwardly from the washer. Furthermore, it is within the teaching of this invention to have a lower slanted front wall of the dryer cabinet which might extend to a point upward or rearward from the back edge of the washing machine lid 46. Other forms of the lower front wall are also possible which might have certain aesthetic appeal, but would still provide spacial relationship between the dryer and washer so that the top opening lid 46 can be extended to a position substantially 60 degrees from horizontal.

While the embodiment of the preesnt invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

I claim:

1. A domestic laundry center comprising a clothes dryer.`

`stantially coextensive therewith and hingedly mounted with respect thereto along an axis at the rear thereof parallel to said front wall of said dryer, said washer access door overlying said top opening of said top wall and openable for removing clothes therefrom, said front wall for said dryer having a vertical upper front wall portion including a dryer access door and a lower front wall portion extending downwardly from said vertical wall portion at a resultant angle of substantially 60 to said top wall of said washer to form `a jointure with said top wall adjacent the hinge axis of said washer access door whereby said washer access door when opened for removing clothes from said spin tub is juxtaposed with the lower front wall portion for said dryer.

2. The laundry center of claim 1 wherein said lower front wall portion includes holding means to retain said washer door in juxtaposed relationship with said lower front wall portion when said washer door is in an open position.

3. A domestic laundry center comprising a clothes dryer having a tumbling drum, an air ow duct system including said drum, and prime mover means for rotating at least a portion of said drum and for impelling air through said duct system, a clothes `"washer below said clothes dryer having a rotatable spin tub, and casing means enclosing said dryer and said washer, said casing means including wall means forming a horizontal top wall having a top opening for said washer and a front wall for said dryer, said top wall of said washer including a washer access door substantially coextensive therewith and hingedly mounted with respect thereto along an axis at the rear thereof parallel to said front wall of said dryer, said washer access door overlying said top opening of said top wall and openable for removing clothes therefrom, said front wall for said dryer having a vertical upper front wall portion including a dryer access door and a lower front wall portion extending downwardly from said vertical wall portion at a resultant angle of substantially 60 to said top wall of said washer to form a jointure with said top wall adjacent the hinge axis of said washer access door whereby said washer access door when opened for removing clothes from said spin tub is juxtaposed with the lower front wall portion for said dryer, said tumbling drum at the front thereof comprising a rotatable substantially imp erforate cylinder and a fixed seal support member therefor coextensive with said cylinder and carried by said front wall for said dryer, said iixed seal support member extending below said upper front wall portion to form with said lower front wall portion an air exhaust passageway in said air ilow duct system.

`4. The laundry center of claim 3 wherein said fixed seal support member includes ports in the portion thereof below said upper front wall connecting the interior of said tumbling drum with said exhaust passageway in air ilow relationship, and lint iilter means extending into said exhaust passageway adjacent said ports and in air ilow intercepting relationship therewith.

5. A domestic laundry center comprising a clothes dryer having a tumbling drum, an air flow duct system including said drum and prime mover means for rotating at least a portion of said drum and for impelling air through said duct system, a clothes washer below said clothes dryer having a rotatable spin tub, and casing means enclosing sa'id dryer and said washer, said casing means including wall means forming a horizontal top Wall having a top opening for said washer and a front wall for said dryer, said top wall of said washer including a washer access door substantially coextensive therewith and hingedly mounted with respect thereto along an axis at the rear thereof parallel to said front wall of said dryer, said washer access door overlying said top opening of said top wall and openable for removing clothes therefrom, said front wall of said dryer having a vertical upper front wall portion including a dryer access door and a lower front wall portion extending downwardly from said vertical wall drum `at the front thereof comprising a rotatable substantially imperforate cylinder and a xed seal support member therefor coextensive with said cylinder and carried by said front wall of said dryer, said xed seal support member extending below said upper front wall portion to form with said lower front wall portion an air exhaust passageway in said air ow duct system, said prime mover means including an impeller having its inlet connected to said exhaust passageway rearwardly thereof and a motor rearwardly of said impeller having a power shaft extending into direct drive relationship with said impeller, said power shaft including means between said impeller and said motor for drivably rotating said cylinder.

6. A domestic laundry center comprising a clothes dryer having a tumbling drum, an air ow duct system including said drum, and prime mover means for rotating at least a portion of said drum and for impelling air through said duct system, a clothes washer below said clothes dryer having a rotatable spin tub including a top opening,

door substantially coextensive therewith and hingedly mounted with respect thereto along an axis at the rear ysaid dryer front wall and said horizontal top wall for said washer adjacent the hinge axis of said washer access door, said lower front wall portion being in a position so as to permit pivoting of said washer access door to an open position having a resultant angle of substantially 60 to the top wall of said washer whereby clothes may be conveniently removed from said spin tub through said top opening and transferred to said dryer.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS WILLIAM I. PRICE, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 68-20 PO-l D50 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION Patent No. 3,545,235 Dated December 8, 1970 Inventor(s) M. A. Menk It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, lines 404l42, cancel sentence beginning with "The stationary" and including "access opening 6." and insert following sentence A dryer door 88 is pivotally mounted on a vertical axis so as to form a closuI for the dryer access opening 86.

Column 4, line 33, "liimted" should read line 47, "vetrical" should read vertical line 57, "vetrical" should read vertical (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M-F'IETGHER.JR. WILLIAM E.

Atte sting Officer SCHUYLER JR C ommis sione r of' Patents

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