Dryer appliance

Abstract

Dryer appliances are provided. A dryer appliance may include a cabinet, and a drum positioned within the cabinet, the drum including a generally cylindrical inner surface and a rear wall and defining a chamber for receipt of articles for drying, the drum generally fixed within the cabinet. The dryer assembly may further include a baffle assembly rotatable within the chamber, the baffle assembly including a baffle, a motor, and an arm connecting the baffle to the motor. Alternatively, the dryer assembly may further include at least one sensor disposed on the inner surface of the drum, the sensor configured to measure at least one of temperature or humidity within the chamber. Alternatively, the dryer assembly may further include a baffle including a body and a contact tip, the contact tip in contact with the inner surface of the drum, the contact tip formed from a felt.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dryer appliance, comprising:
 a cabinet;   a drum positioned within the cabinet, the drum comprising a generally cylindrical inner surface and a rear wall and defining a chamber for receipt of articles for drying, the drum generally fixed within the cabinet; and   a baffle assembly rotatable within the chamber, the baffle assembly comprising a baffle, a motor, and an arm connecting the baffle to the motor.   
     
     
         2 . The dryer appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the baffle assembly is simply supported within the chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The dryer appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the baffle assembly is cantilevered within the chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The dryer appliance of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the arm extends radially within the chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The dryer appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the arm extends axially within the chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The dryer appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the baffle assembly is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the drum. 
     
     
         7 . The dryer appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one sensor disposed on the inner surface of the drum, the sensor configured to measure at least one of temperature, humidity or moisture content within the chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The dryer appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the baffle comprises a body and a contact tip, the contact tip extending from the body and in contact with the inner surface of the drum. 
     
     
         9 . The dryer appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the baffle assembly further comprises a spring mechanism biasing the baffle towards the inner surface of the drum. 
     
     
         10 . A dryer appliance, comprising:
 a cabinet;   a drum positioned within the cabinet, the drum comprising a generally cylindrical inner surface and a rear wall and defining a chamber for receipt of articles for drying, the drum generally fixed within the cabinet;   a baffle assembly rotatable within the chamber; and   at least one sensor disposed on the inner surface of the drum, the sensor configured to measure at least one of temperature, humidity or moisture content within the chamber.   
     
     
         11 . The dryer appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one sensor is configured to measure temperature, humidity and moisture content within the chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The dryer appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one sensor is a plurality of sensors. 
     
     
         13 . A dryer appliance, comprising:
 a cabinet;   a drum positioned within the cabinet, the drum comprising a generally cylindrical inner surface and a rear wall and defining a chamber for receipt of articles for drying, the drum generally fixed within the cabinet; and   a baffle assembly rotatable within the chamber, the baffle assembly comprising a baffle and a motor, the baffle comprising a body and a contact tip, the contact tip in contact with the inner surface of the drum, the contact tip formed from one of a felt or a rubber.   
     
     
         14 . The dryer appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the contact tip extends from the body. 
     
     
         15 . The dryer appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the baffle further comprises a spring mechanism biasing the tip towards the inner surface of the drum. 
     
     
         16 . The dryer appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the baffle further comprises a contact arm extending from the body. 
     
     
         17 . The dryer appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the contact tip extends from the contact arm. 
     
     
         18 . The dryer appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the contact arm is a plurality of contact arms. 
     
     
         19 . The dryer appliance of  claim 18 , wherein the baffle further comprises a spring mechanism biasing the plurality of contact arms towards each other. 
     
     
         20 . The dryer appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the baffle further comprises a compliant member mounted to the body and in contact with the inner surface of the drum.