Vapor removal system

Abstract

An apparatus for the evacuation of warm, moist air or vapor from a dishwasher cabinet or other washing machine interior. A centrifugal fan draws the hot air and water vapor out of the washing cavity through a flue riser and discharges it into a cooling chamber with one or more cooling spray nozzles. The cooling spray nozzles spray a fine mist of cold water into the stream of heated air and vapor, and may spray at angle to the flow of the stream of heated air and vapor. As the heated air and vapor from the dishwasher and the cooling spray mix, heat is transferred from the heated air and vapor to the cold water or mist being sprayed into the air stream. This reduces the temperature of the vapors and air that was extracted from the dishwasher. As the temperature is reduced, the water vapors condense and form droplets which accumulate on the sides and bottom of the cooling flue. This reduced temperature and moisture air is then discharged to the room at an opening, which may be located slightly above the bottom of the flue cabinet, along with the condensate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vapor removal apparatus for a washing machine, comprising:
 a cooling chamber with a top and a bottom, with an inlet at the top and an outlet at the bottom, wherein the inlet is adapted to receive discharged air from the washing machine; and   a plurality of nozzles in the interior of the cooling chamber, said nozzles positioned to spray a mist of cold water into the discharged air as it flows from the inlet to the outlet at the bottom of the cooling chamber;   wherein the outlet at the bottom of the cooling chamber is configured to raise the temperature of the discharged air to prevent any remaining water vapor in the discharged air by the joint discharge of water, condensate and discharged air through the outlet at the bottom of the cooling chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a fan in or proximate to the inlet to pull air from the washing machine. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the nozzles are mounted on a nozzle manifold. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the nozzles are mounted on an interior wall of the cooling chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the nozzles are mounted to spray at substantially a 90 degree angle to the flow of the air. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the nozzles are mounted to spray at an angle against the flow of the air. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein condensation formed from the mixing of the sprayed mist and the discharged air accumulates on the inside of the cooling chamber and is discharged as a fluid from the bottom of the cooling chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the condensed fluid is discharged in conjunction with the discharged air stream.