Dryer front bulkhead ventilation integration

Abstract

An apparatus for providing ventilation to a clothes dryer is provided. A front bulkhead defines an inlet portion projecting inward into the interior of a drum of a clothes dryer. The inlet portion defines an access opening into the drum and a receptacle having a generally vertical surface. The generally vertical surface defines a ventilation port through the generally vertical surface and an actuator mount located on an outer face of the generally vertical surface, the ventilation port being free of mesh. The actuator mount is configured to receive a ventilation actuator for controlling airflow through the ventilation port.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for providing ventilation to a clothes dryer, comprising:
 a front bulkhead defining an inlet portion projecting inward into the interior of a drum of a clothes dryer, the inlet portion defining an access opening into the drum and a receptacle having a generally vertical surface, the generally vertical surface defining a ventilation port through the generally vertical surface and an actuator mount located on an outer face of the generally vertical surface, the ventilation port being free of mesh, the actuator mount configured to receive a ventilation actuator for controlling airflow through the ventilation port.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a filter assembly comprising a wire mesh and a frame formed around the periphery of the wire mesh, wherein the receptacle is configured to receive the filter assembly such that the filter assembly covers the ventilation port.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the filter assembly covers an inner face of the ventilation port. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the filter assembly defines one or more snap fit connectors and the receptacle defines one or more matching voids extending through the receptacle, the voids being arranged in locations corresponding to the snap fit connectors to allow the filter assembly to be secured to the receptacle. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the filter assembly is of a generally planar shape. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the frame of the filter assembly is composed of a polymer overmolded around the wire mesh. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the frame of the filter assembly is asymmetrical to provide for insertion in a single orientation. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the ventilation port defines a single through hole molded into the front bulkhead to provide an air channel for passage of air flow through the front bulkhead, wherein the wire mesh of the filter assembly secures the air channel from object entry. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the ventilation actuator comprises an actuator bracket configured to attach the ventilation actuator to the actuator mount, the actuator mount defines one or more bosses, and the actuator bracket defines one or more corresponding through holes configured to receive fasteners to secure the actuator bracket to the one or more bosses. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the actuator mount defines one or more guide pins, the actuator bracket defines one or more guide pin locator openings, and the guide pins and the guide pin locator openings are sized and positioned to locate the ventilation actuator into position for attachment. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the ventilation actuator is controllable between an open state in which the ventilation actuator allows for passive ventilation of the drum through the ventilation port, and a closed state in which the ventilation actuator seals the ventilation port to prevent the passive ventilation. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the ventilation port defines a plurality of through holes molded into the front bulkhead to provide an air channel for passage of air flow through the front bulkhead while securing the air channel from object entry. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the ventilation port defines a generally rectangular opening having perpendicular first and second ribs connecting midpoints of opposite sides of the generally rectangular opening, with one or more concentric circular ribs centered at the intersection of the first and second ribs. 
     
     
         14 . A filter assembly for providing ventilation to a clothes dryer, comprising:
 a wire mesh; and   a frame formed around the periphery of the wire mesh to support the wire mesh in a planar shape, the frame sized to be receivable in a single orientation into a receptacle of a front bulkhead of a clothes dryer, such that the filter assembly provides the wire mesh to cover a ventilation port through the receptacle of the front bulkhead, the ventilation port being free of mesh.   
     
     
         15 . The filter assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the filter assembly is sized to cover an inner face of the ventilation port. 
     
     
         16 . The filter assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the filter assembly defines one or more snap fit connectors corresponding to one or more matching voids extending through the receptacle, the snap fit connectors being arranged in locations corresponding to voids to allow the filter assembly to be secured to the receptacle. 
     
     
         17 . The filter assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the filter assembly is generally rectangular, with rounded corners and parallel short sides, with one of the longer rectangular sides arced to match an inner contour of a ridge surrounding the receptacle to aid in orientation and secure placement of the filter assembly to the receptacle. 
     
     
         18 . A system for providing ventilation to a clothes dryer, comprising:
 a front bulkhead defining an inlet portion projecting inward into the interior of a drum of a clothes dryer, the inlet portion defining an access opening into the drum and a receptacle having a generally vertical surface, the generally vertical surface defining a ventilation port through the generally vertical surface and an actuator mount located on an outer face of the generally vertical surface, the ventilation port being free of mesh, the receptacle defining one or more matching voids extending through the receptacle, the actuator mount configured to receive a ventilation actuator for controlling airflow through the ventilation port; and   a filter assembly comprising a wire mesh and a frame composed of a polymer overmolded around the periphery of the wire mesh, wherein the receptacle is configured to receive the filter assembly such that the filter assembly covers the ventilation port, the filter assembly defining one or more snap fit connectors arranged in locations corresponding to the one or more matching voids to allow the filter assembly to be secured to the receptacle in a single orientation.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the ventilation actuator comprises an actuator bracket configured to attach the ventilation actuator to the actuator mount, the actuator mount defines one or more bosses, and the actuator bracket defines one or more corresponding through holes configured to receive fasteners to secure the actuator bracket to the one or more bosses, and
 wherein the actuator mount defines one or more guide pins, the actuator bracket defines one or more guide pin locator openings, and the guide pins and the guide pin locator openings are sized and positioned to locate the ventilation actuator into position for attachment to the actuator mount.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the ventilation port defines a plurality of through holes molded into the front bulkhead to provide an air channel for passage of air flow through the front bulkhead while securing the air channel from object entry.