Frigidaire 'Filtrator?'

[bugsyjones]

According to physical and photographic evidence, in the fifties, Frigidaire made 'FILTRATOR' dryers.

I know next to nothing about classic dryers. Would someone be so kind as to explain the 'FILTRATOR' concept to me?

Perhaps compare it to how a modern dryer works.

Thanks!

~Tim

 

[appnut]

See thread 23664 1955 Frigidaire Filtrator & 1961 Automagic for explanation you are seeking.

 

[bugsyjones]

That doesn't help any,

It's just pictures.

Does it 'filter' the hot air and vent it back into the room out of the front?

Does it have an external exhaust?

HOW DOES IT WORK?!

~Tim

 

[appnut]

You didn't look close neough!!

The Filtrator heats with calrod's in the upper left portion of the dryer, this in turn heats the dryer tub. A fan driven off the drive motor draws air thru the tub down and across the filtrator tubes, the condensed water in the tubes falls to a collection tray below that is emptied at the end of the days use.

 

[appnut]

Now that you know the essential basics, now you can ask additional questions to get more detail.

 

[toggleswitch2]

My understanding is that a FILTRATOR is a CONDENSER dryer that uses room air to cool the closed internal-air circuit.

(Read: UNVENTED)

In a nutshell:

The same air is heated, blown through the clothes drum, picks up moisture, is cooled and condensed at the bottom of the machine and is then reheated. The cycle continuues ad-infinitum.

Of course really cold basements or garages work best for the condenser. Condenser dryers can use air or water to cool "the works" to achieve the necessary condensation. The FILTRATOR used cool/cold air from the room and returned it to the room warm (hot, really) but dry.

The heat is retained in the room but the moisture is not put into the room.

There is another thread discussing heat-pump condenser dryers (As opposed to an electric resistance coil supplying the necessary heat. You will note the internal air-circuit is the same..

air heated
blown over clothes
moisture condensed out (by cooling it)

begin again..air heated....

Indstead of usingair or water to cool the moisture-laden drum air, the heat-pumo dryer simply uses a cooling coil with a refrigerant ("freon" "Puron" or equivalent).

Hope this helps.

 

[toggleswitch2]

Like most dyrers that use high heat and low airflow, towels and such come out especially fluffy and soft.

Condenser dyers are known for leaving the articles of clothing a bit "dewey" at the end (i.e. not bone-dry) and take a VERY long time to cool-down.. I do MEAN HOURS...

The deweyness is resolved in just a few minutes after the clothes are in open-air.

 

[joelippard]

Here are the answers

Robert passed this on to me last year, it's in the 2008 forum archives

 

[joelippard]

 

[bugsyjones]

Thank You.

Now I know.

It seems to me, Filtrator technology is more complicated than I care to have in a dryer.

Plus, I do not like the air vented back into the room. It must be vented outside.

Thanks for your help!
~Tim

 

[gansky1]

As a one and only dryer, I wouldn't want a Filtrator either but for a second "play" dryer, they are wonderful.

There is truly nothing in the world like towels from a steamy Filtrator on a cold Midwestern day! You're not that far from Omaha, come try it ;-)

 

[bugsyjones]

Gansky1

I would...

...if....

...you'll give me your 57 Control Tower set.

~Tim

 

[everythingold]

Gansky1, is that a Hamilton dryer in your pic?