Laundry dryer with heat shield

Abstract

A laundry dryer is provided including a dryer casing with a drum for receipt of articles for drying positioned therein. The laundry dryer also includes a heating system positioned in the dryer casing, the heating system including an evaporator configured to cool and dehumidify air from the drum and a heating element configured to heat air provided to the drum. The laundry dryer also includes features for hindering a transfer of an extreme temperature condition from the drum to the heating system.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A laundry dryer comprising:
 a dryer casing;   a drum positioned in the dryer casing for receipt of articles for drying;   a refrigerant based heating system positioned in the dryer casing and including a compressor, an evaporator configured to cool and dehumidify air from the drum, and a condenser configured to heat air provided to the drum; and   a shield positioned within the dryer casing between the compressor, the evaporator, and the condenser of the refrigerant based heating system and the drum comprised of a flame-resistant material.   
     
     
         2 . The laundry dryer of  claim 1 , wherein the shield comprises a flexible material. 
     
     
         3 . The laundry dryer of  claim 2 , wherein the flexible material is a fiberglass fabric. 
     
     
         4 . The laundry dryer of  claim 1 , wherein the shield includes a frame extending at least partially around a perimeter of the shield. 
     
     
         5 . The laundry dryer of  claim 4 , wherein the frame is attached to the dryer casing. 
     
     
         6 . The laundry dryer of  claim 1 , wherein the laundry dryer defines a vertical direction, and wherein the drum is positioned above the shield along the vertical direction. 
     
     
         7 . The laundry dryer of  claim 1 , further comprising a heater casing, wherein the compressor, the evaporator, and the condenser of the refrigerant based heating system are positioned within the heater casing, and wherein the shield is positioned adjacent to the heater casing. 
     
     
         8 . The laundry dryer of  claim 7 , wherein the heater casing is comprised of a flame resistant plastic material. 
     
     
         9 . The laundry dryer of  claim 1 , further comprising an electric motor mechanically engaged with the refrigerant based heating system, wherein the shield extends around the electric motor. 
     
     
         10 . The laundry dryer of  claim 1 , wherein the shield comprises a rigid layer attached to a flexible layer. 
     
     
         11 . The laundry dryer of  claim 10 , wherein the rigid layer is a metal layer and wherein the flexible layer is a fiberglass fabric layer. 
     
     
         12 . The laundry dryer of  claim 10 , further comprising a gap defined between the rigid layer and the drum. 
     
     
         13 . The laundry dryer of  claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor positioned on or within the dryer casing, the laundry dryer configured to cease operation when the temperature sensor senses a temperature above a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         14 . The laundry dryer of  claim 13 , wherein the temperature sensor is positioned above the shield along a vertical direction of the laundry dryer. 
     
     
         15 . A flame shield for a laundry dryer comprising:
 a first side configured to be positioned adjacent to a refrigerant based heating system of the laundry dryer, the refrigerant based heating system including a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator;   a second and opposite side configured to be positioned adjacent to a drum of the laundry dryer; and   a perimeter defining a shape that corresponds to a perimeter of the refrigerant based heating system, such that the flame shield is configured to prevent a transfer of an extreme temperature condition from the drum to the refrigerant based heating system.   
     
     
         16 . The flame shield of  claim 15 , further comprising
 a rigid frame attached to the perimeter of the flame shield.   
     
     
         17 . The flame shield of  claim 15 , wherein the first side is a flexible layer, and wherein the second side is a rigid layer. 
     
     
         18 . A laundry dryer comprising:
 a dryer casing;   a drum positioned in the dryer casing for receipt of articles for drying;   a heating system positioned in the dryer casing and including an evaporator configured to cool and dehumidify air from the drum and an electrical resistance heater configured to heat air provided to the drum; and   a shield positioned within the dryer casing between the evaporator and the electrical resistance heater of the heating system and the drum comprised of a flame-resistant material.   
     
     
         19 . The laundry dryer of  claim 18 , wherein the heating system is positioned within a heater casing, the heater casing positioned in the dryer casing, and wherein the shield comprises a flexible material. 
     
     
         20 . The laundry dryer of  claim 18 , wherein the laundry dryer further comprises
 an electric motor positioned approximately in the same plane as the heating system, and wherein the shield defines a cutout configured to extend around the electric motor.