Convertible drying from venting to condensing in combination washer-dryer

Abstract

A laundry dryer containing a combination of a vented and condenser dryer, in which during a process of venting, air is drawn from the surrounding, heated and blown into the drum and then exhausted through an air duct to the exterior, and during condensing drying, hot air and a fine mist of cold water are introduced into the drum and the hot air is cooled using a condensing process and the residual water is removed by a pump.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A laundry dryer system, comprising:
 a housing;   a rotating drum contained within the housing, wherein the drum is selectively operable to rotate in a clockwise direction and in a counter-clockwise direction on a timer schedule;   a heater selectively operable to heat air blown into the drum;   a blower and a blower motor selectively operable to drive air into the drum;   an exhaust hose from the drum to a back portion of the dryer selectively operable to push exhausting hot air to an exterior of the system;   an optional fan attached to the exterior of the dryer at an opening of the exhaust hose to the back portion of the system;   a drum motor selectively operable to rotate the drum in the clockwise and counter-clockwise directions;   a valve system including a cold water valve portion and a condensing valve portion;   a pump at a base portion of the dryer to draw out and expel a water condensate from the drum; and   an electronic controller.   
     
     
         2 . The dryer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the fan is adapted for pushing the exhausting hot air from a drying chamber portion. 
     
     
         3 . The dryer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the electronic controller is adapted for switching from a vented state of operation to a condenser state of operation. 
     
     
         4 . The dryer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cold water valve portion is adapted for operating in a drying cycle and drawing cold water into the dryer. 
     
     
         5 . The dryer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the valve system is adapted for taking a cold water input from the cold water inlet valve portion and converting it to a fine mist.