Title: Method and apparatus for drying clothes

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Claims: What we claim is:

1. A method of drying clothes comprising the steps of placing the clothes in a sub-atmospheric space, maintaining the sub-atmospheric pressure within the space, agitating the clothes, ultrasonically vibrating the clothes to break large water agglomerates into smaller units and applying microwave radiation to the clothes to excite the water molecules and speed evaporation.

2. A clothes dryer comprising, in combination, chamber means for receiving clothes to be dried, pressure reducing means in communication with said chamber means for reducing the pressure within said chamber means to below atmospheric and for maintaining the below atmospheric pressure within the space, an ultrasonic generator means adjacent said chamber means for breaking large water aggregates into smaller units and microwave means adjacent said chamber means for exciting the water molecules thereby speeding evaporation.

3. A clothes dryer comprising, in combination, a cabinet having an entrance door, said cabinet being airtight wherein a sub-atmospheric pressure may be maintained, a drum mounted for rotation within said cabinet, said drum defining an opening in communication with said entrance door whereby wet articles can be placed within said drum, motor means for rotating said drum, a vacuum pump in communication with said cabinet for reducing the pressure within said cabinet to sub-atmospheric, ultrasonic generator means adjacent said cabinet and said drum for breaking large water agglomerates into smaller units and microwave means adjacent said cabinet and said drum for exciting the water molecules thereby speeding evaporation.

Other info:

Inventors: Rapino, Norman G. (Toledo, OH, US)
DeMuro, Frank P.

Application Number: 708650
Filing Date: 1976-07-26
Publication_date: 1977-11-15
Assignee:
Primary Class(es): 34/261 34/60, 34/92, 34/262, 34/263
Other Classes:
US Patent Ref:

2406494	Aug, 1946	Ferris	34/4.
3175299	Mar, 1965	Boucher	34/DIG.
3190011	Jun, 1965	Shields	34/133.
3327401	Jun, 1967	Stamos et al.	34/17.
3802090	Apr, 1974	Delhaye et al.	34/92.
3972126	Aug, 1976	DeMuro et al.	34/3.

Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Camby, John J.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney: Emch; Richard D.