TREA

Dryer Duct Tester

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Information

  • Patent Application
  • 20250179722
  • Publication Number
    20250179722
  • Date Filed
    December 01, 2023
    a year ago
  • Date Published
    June 05, 2025
    5 months ago
  • Inventors
    • Kaczmarek; Bert N (Elkhart, IN, US)
Information
Abstract
When running a dryer, it is important to have proper ventilation of the air out of the house to release the heat emitted and any gas emitted from the dryer. When the ducts of a dryer become clogged this release becomes constructed and becomes safety hazard and lessens the effectiveness of the dryer unit. The dryer duct tester gives the only way to test the ducts by placing the duct tester between the dryer and the ducts and the airflow will place a ball to the measuring unit based on how many feet of duct are being used. If the number on the dryer duct tester correspond with the amount of dryer duct in feet, then the dryer duct is functioning correctly. If the number is higher then this indicates a clog in the duct and will require duct cleaning or replacement.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.


STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.


THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable


AN INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE STATEMENT REGARDING MATERIAL

Not Applicable.


STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR A JOINT INVENTOR

Not Applicable.


BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When using a dryer, it is hard to determine if the ducts running from the dryer are clogged or if they are functioning as intended. Having these ducts clogged with lint blocks the hot air from escaping the dryer and does not allow clothes to dry in the time intended. Often times it will take much longer to dry clothes with a clogged duct and many people will believe it to be the fault of the dryer and not the duct itself. This invention will allow buyers, and installers of new and used appliances to see if the ducts are clogged, or if they will need cleaned or replaced. As of now, there are no ways to determine if a used dryer duct is working properly or if it will need replaced or cleaned. A clogged dryer duct also causes a health and safety concern because it causes a fire hazard, and in gas dryers can cause carbon monoxide to release into the house instead of out the dryer duct as intended. This product will help ensure safety as well as the functionality of the dryer being run or installed and will be useful for both everyday dryer users and appliance companies, installers, and appliance repairmen.


BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The dryer duct cleaner will be used by appliance owners, appliance repairmen, and appliance installers, among others to test if the dryer ducts are functional or if they are clogged. Clogged dryer ducts causes clothes not to dry as well as intended and may require multiple drying cycles. There is also the safety threat it poses, as there is a fire hazard if too much lint is clogged in the ducts, and in gas dryers the gas must be able to safely leave the dryer and exit the house or the carbon monoxide fumes pose as a health are fire hazard.


This invention will tell if the dryer duct is clogged by connecting the duct tester to the back of the dryer and in between the duct, and for every foot of duct the tester will raise level on the tester corresponding to the amount of feet of duct being used. If the number on the tester rises higher than the number of feet of duct, then this indicates that there is a clog in the dryer duct and the duct would then need to be cleaned or replaced. If the number on the tester is lower than the amount of feet of duct, then this indicates that the fan of the dryer is not functioning properly and will need to be fixed or replaced.





BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The entire air duct tester consists of 3 main parts. The base, FIG. 1—107, the pressure tube, FIG. 1—106, and the ball, FIG. 1—104. The base allows air to flow from the dryer to the duct. The air enters from the dryer vent, which connects at point 103, a 4″ opening which will connect directly to the dryer vent to allow air to flow directly through the dryer duct tester. The air would then flow out of FIG. 1—102 which is the opposite end with a hole slightly under 4″ which connects to the dryer duct. At the top of FIG. 1—107 is FIG. 1—105 which allows the tube to connect to the base at FIG. 1—108. There are also several air release holes to level out the position of the ball, these holes are located at FIG. 1—101. The level of the ball is measured in numerical units, which correspond to the number of feet of duct being tested FIG. 1—109.



FIG. 2 shows the dryer duct tester connected to both the dryer FIG. 2—210 and the duct FIG. 2—212. Air leaves the dryer through the dryer vent at FIG. 2—211 which connects to the duct tester at FIG. 2—203. Air then flows through the duct tester through FIG. 2—207 up the tube FIG. 2—201 and the pressure release holes in the tube FIG. 2—206, and out of the end of the dryer duct tester at FIG. 2—202. The top of the duct tester FIG. 2—205 allows the tube to connect to the base at FIG. 2—208. When running proper the air will position the ball FIG. 2—204 on the number marker FIG. 2—209 that would correspond to the amount of feet of duct being used, FIG. 2—212.


A side view of the dryer duct tester shows where the air would enter the dryer duct tester at FIG. 3—303, then flow through the base FIG. 3—307 and up the pressure tube FIG. 3—306 and holes FIG. 3—301 and finally out of the dryer duct tester at FIG. 3—302. The pressure tube will connect to the top of the base FIG. 3—308 at the point shown at FIG. 3—305. Upon proper function, the number located at FIG. 3—309 will correspond to the amount of feet of duct assuming the ducts are not clogged. A number higher will indicate a clogged duct and a lower number will indicate an improper functioning dryer fan or air release from the duct other throughout the duct before the end.





DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The dryer duct tester uses airflow through the device placed between a dryer and the intended duct to tell if the intended duct is clogged or functioning properly. The invention consists of 3 major parts. The main shaft made of tin or plastic, the pressure tube, and the ball that indicates whether the duct is clogged by the position on the vent. These 3 parts positioned between the back of the dryer and the duct will tell whether the ducts are clogged and if they will need to be cleaned or replaced.


The process begins by taking the dryer duct off a dryer. This could be when installing a new dryer or to test an already installed dryer. There are two ends to the dryer duct tester one end being slightly under 4″ and the other being exactly 4″. The 4″ end would go into the back end of the dryer connecting to the blower. The opposite end of the dryer duct tester, the end that is slightly under 4″, would plug into the 4″ dryer duct that will be intended for use with the dryer.


Upon plugging both ends of the dryer duct tester into the vent of the intended dryer, and the intended duct for the dryer, the dryer duct tester will be ready to use. When both ends are properly fitted into the dryer vent and the duct, air from the dryer's fan will pass between the dryer duct tester straight through to the duct. When the dryer ducts are functioning properly, the amount of duct in feet will correspond to the number reached by the ball on the dryer duct cleaner. Therefore, if there are 15 feet of dryer duct traveling between the dryer and the release exhaust to the outside then when installed properly while the dryer is running, the ball will rise to the 15 marker on the dryer duct tester. This will be the same is if there are 20 feet of duct, then when the dryer duct tester is connected to the dryer and duct the ball will rise to the 20 marker on the dryer duct tester. These numbers are reached when the dryer duct is not clogged, and the person using the dryer duct tester will first measure the amount of duct to ensure accuracy of the test.


When the ball on the dryer duct tester reaches a number that is different from the amount of duct then this indicates there is a problem with either a clog in the dryer duct, or a malfunctioning dryer. If the number reached on the dryer duct tester is higher than the amount of duct being used, this indicates that the dryer duct is clogged and will need either cleaned or replaced. Once the dryer duct is cleaned or replaced then the dryer duct tester will need to be used again, to ensure the proper functioning of the new or newly cleaned dryer duct.


When the number on the dryer duct tester reaches a number that is below the amount of duct in feet, this indicates the fan is not functioning proper in the dryer and the fan or the dryer itself will need to be replaced. The other scenario in which the number on the dryer duct tester would be below the amount of feet being used would be if there is air being released before the intended release at the end of the duct. This could indicate a tear in the duct or improper seal on the duct. This release could cause fire and carbon monoxide inhalation problems especially in gas dryers and the issue should be addressed immediately. If gas or carbon monoxide is released into the house the duct should be inspected and repaired or replaced to get rid of the safety hazards. The invention will be made of plastic and metal. The plastic version will be manufactured by injection molding, and or a 3D printer to build the base. The pressure tube and ball will then be added completing the assembly. The metal version will be made of Tin bending the metal and sealing with welds and cutting the whole with a punch press local factories to distribute and shipped when needed. More research will be done once the manufacturing begins to find the most cost effective way of making the Dryer Duct Tester.


SEQUENCE LISTING

Not applicable

Claims
  • 1. A way to determine if a dryer duct vent is clogged comprising: a body that connects to the dryer and duct that allows airflow between the two;a ball that gives measure of the dryer duct in feet corresponding to the spot on the tube;and a pressure tube that the ball lands on the line giving the measure in units of feet of duct on the line of the tube the components.
  • 2. A way to determine if a dryer duct vent is clogged as in claim one, wherein said the body, ball, and pressure tube put together corresponds to the amount of duct in feet to the line the ball reaches on the tube which indicates if there is a clog or not.