Heating element compartment for electric dryer applications

Abstract

A heating box for an electric heating element is disposed in a clothes dryer. A substantially rectangular enclosure is opened at a first end and closed at a second end and internally supports one or more heating elements. A surface of the enclosure includes a plurality of holes which allow the heating element along its length to remain in contact with ambient air. The first end is connected to the heating duct of the dryer, and air enters through the plurality of holes and is heated. The air is drawn through the open end of the heating box due to a negative pressure applied to the dryer chamber into the dryer. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the size of the holes changes along the length of the enclosure.

1 . A heating box for an electric heating element comprising: 
 an enclosure open at a first end supporting a heating element and closed at an opposite end, a surface of said enclosure including a plurality of holes which allow said heating element along its length to remain in contact with ambient air, said first end being open and arranged to deliver heated drying air to a drying chamber of a laundry dryer.    
   
   
       2 . The heating box according to  claim 1 , wherein said holes are evenly spaced along said enclosure surface.  
   
   
       3 . The heating box according to  claim 2 , wherein said holes vary in size from said closed end of said enclosure to the open end of said enclosure.  
   
   
       4 . The heating box according to  claim 1 , wherein said heating box has a rectangular cross section.  
   
   
       5 . The heating box according to  claim 4 , wherein each surface of said heating box includes said holes.  
   
   
       6 . The heating box according to  claim 4 , wherein said plurality of holes vary in size from said open end to said closed end with larger holes being located near said closed end.  
   
   
       7 . A method for equalizing the temperature distribution across a heating element comprising: 
 supporting said beating element in an enclosure, said enclosure being open at one end arranged to deliver heated drying air to a drying chamber of a laundry dryer and closed at an opposite end; and    locating holes along the length of said enclosure having a size which varies from one end to another, whereby the heating element is in contact with the ambient air along substantially along its entire length.    
   
   
       8 . The method for equalizing the temperature distribution across a heating element according to  claim 7 , wherein said holes adjacent an end which delivers hot air are smaller than the holes adjacent the closed end.  
   
   
       9 . The method for equalizing the temperature distribution across a heating element according to  claim 8 , wherein said holes are distributed on each of four surfaces of a rectangular enclosure.