Fluid delivery system for a dryer appliance

Abstract

A dryer appliance includes a distribution system for directing treatment fluids into a dryer chamber. The treatment fluids are transported from a reservoir and directed onto a heating surface above a heating element, where the treatment fluids are evaporated. A negative pressure is generated by a blower that draws ambient air through a heater housing around the heating element and heating surface, thus mixing the ambient air with the evaporated treatment fluids. This mixture is then directed into the drying chamber, where the articles to be treated are present.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dryer appliance comprising:
 a cabinet;   a rotatable drum within the cabinet, the rotatable drum defining a chamber for the receipt of articles for drying;   a reservoir for receipt of a treatment fluid;   a heater housing disposed within the cabinet and defining a volume, the heater housing having a first end and a second end, the first end of the heater housing defining an opening;   a heater at least partially disposed within the volume defined by the heater housing;   a fluid distribution element for directing the treatment fluid into the volume defined by the heater housing; and   a supply duct having a first end and a second end, the first end of the supply duct in fluid communication with the second end of the heater housing and the second end of the supply duct in fluid communication with the chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The dryer appliance of  claim 1 , the dryer appliance further comprising a fluid communication path having a first end and a second end, the first end of the fluid communication path attached to the reservoir and the second end of the fluid communication path attached to the fluid distribution element. 
     
     
         3 . The dryer appliance of  claim 2 , the dryer appliance further comprising a valve disposed between the first end and the second end of the fluid communication path to interrupt the flow of treatment fluid. 
     
     
         4 . The dryer appliance of  claim 3 , where the valve is biased to a closed position. 
     
     
         5 . The dryer appliance of  claim 4 , the dryer appliance further comprising a controller, the controller configured to open the valve during at least a portion of a drying cycle. 
     
     
         6 . The dryer appliance of  claim 5 , wherein the fluid distribution element is a nozzle. 
     
     
         7 . The dryer appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid distribution element directs the treatment fluid through the opening defined by the first end of the heater housing. 
     
     
         8 . The dryer appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the heater housing further includes a port above at least a portion of the heater and the fluid distribution element is disposed through the port. 
     
     
         9 . The dryer appliance of  claim 1 , the dryer appliance further comprising a heating plate disposed above at least a portion of the heater and wherein the fluid distribution element further directs the treatment fluid onto the heating plate. 
     
     
         10 . The dryer appliance of  claim 9 , wherein the heating plate is a drawer that slides between an open position and a closed position, wherein the drawer is disposed above at least a portion of the heater when in the closed position and at least a portion of the drawer extends outside the cabinet when in the open position to allow access to the drawer for cleaning. 
     
     
         11 . The dryer appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the drawer is removable from the cabinet. 
     
     
         12 . The dryer appliance of  claim 1 , the dryer appliance further comprising a movable reservoir lid on a top surface of the dryer appliance for providing selective access to the reservoir. 
     
     
         13 . A dryer appliance comprising:
 a cabinet;   a rotatable drum within the cabinet, the rotatable drum defining a chamber for the receipt of articles for drying;   a reservoir for receipt of a treatment fluid;   a heater housing disposed within the cabinet and defining a volume, the heater housing having a first end and a second end, the first end of the heater housing defining an opening;   a heater at least partially disposed within the volume defined by the heater housing;   a fluid distribution element for directing the treatment fluid into the volume defined by the heater housing;   a supply duct having a first end and a second end, the first end of the supply duct in fluid communication with the second end of the heater housing and the second end of the supply duct in fluid communication with the chamber;   a fluid communication path having a first end and a second end, the first end of the fluid communication path attached to the reservoir and the second end of the fluid communication path attached to the fluid distribution element;   a valve disposed between the first end and the second end of the fluid communication path to interrupt the flow of treatment fluid, the valve biased to a closed position.   
     
     
         14 . The dryer appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the fluid distribution element is a nozzle. 
     
     
         15 . The dryer appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the fluid distribution element directs the treatment fluid through the opening defined by the first end of the heater housing. 
     
     
         16 . The dryer appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the heater housing further includes a port above at least a portion of the heater and the fluid distribution element is disposed through the port. 
     
     
         17 . The dryer appliance of  claim 13 , the dryer appliance further comprising a heating plate disposed above at least a portion of the heater and wherein the fluid distribution element further directs the treatment fluid onto the heating plate. 
     
     
         18 . The dryer appliance of  claim 17 , wherein the heating plate is a drawer that slides between an open position and a closed position, wherein the drawer is disposed above at least a portion of the heater when in the closed position and at least a portion of the drawer extends outside the cabinet when in the open position to allow access to the drawer for cleaning. 
     
     
         19 . The dryer appliance of  claim 18 , wherein the drawer is removable from the cabinet. 
     
     
         20 . The dryer appliance of  claim 13 , the dryer appliance further comprising a movable reservoir lid on a top surface of the dryer appliance for providing selective access to the reservoir.