The clothes dryer was one of many machines invented by women. Men designed the clothes dryer. George T. Sampson was one of the men who created clothes dryers. Others include Alva J. Fisher, Pochons’ ventilator, and the Maytag Corporation. The first clothes dryers were a lot less effective than today’s dryers. Moreover, these devices were inefficient because clothes were spread out on racks, and only a tiny amount of clothing could be dried at once.
George T. Sampson
The clothes dryer is an automatic drying machine. Sampson, an African-American inventor, first invented the device in 1892. He received a patent for it in 1893. Sampson was also credited with inventing the propeller for a sled. Previously, clothes were hung over an open fire or ventilator. Sampson improved the process by using a series of suspension rods over a specially designed stove. This allowed for faster drying times and enhanced safety. The invention was used in homes until electric and gas dryers rose in the mid-1930s.
Sampson was a shoemaker from Hanson, MA when he enlisted in the army. His regiment served in the Peninsula Campaign, where he was involved with the 18th Mass. Infantry. He was later evacuated from the battlefield after contracting jaundice. In 1862, he was transferred to the General Hospital in Hampton, VA, after the Rendezvous of Distribution in Alexandria, VA. During his recovery, he was diagnosed with incipient tuberculosis.
Early clothes dryers were created in the late eighteenth century. These early devices were called “ventilators” and consisted of a metal drum with ventilation holes. This method was highly inefficient and, in some cases, even led to the catching of fire. Eventually, these methods were abandoned due to environmental concerns. In 1892, George T. Sampson received a patent for his new device, which improved the ventilator.
Sampson’s patents were submitted in 1885. One of his patents, #312,388, dealt with attaching a propelling device to a tricycle. In the winter, the wheels would be replaced with runners, and pedals would control the propeller. Sampson’s drawings and patents are on file with the U.S. Patent Office.
Electric dryers invented by Alva J. Fisher
Electric dryers are appliances that wring clothes using a motor powered by electricity. Alva J. Fisher first invented them in 1904. In the following years, Maytag and Whirlpool would introduce variations of the electric dryer. As technology improved, electric dryers became more affordable and widely available.
Alva J. Fisher, working at the Hurley Washing Machine Company in Chicago, invented the first electric washing machine. His invention was named “The Thor” and became popular in the early 1900s. It featured a galvanized drum with an electric motor. Fisher was granted a patent for the machine in 1910. The Maytag Corporation also began manufacturing electric-powered wringers, but there has yet to be a consensus on the exact date.
Eventually, sales of electric washing machines reached over a million units in the U.S., but sales slowed during the Great Depression. Despite this, by 1940, almost half of all electrically-wired homes had an electric washing machine. However, the first electric dryers caught on slower than the washer. Many people preferred to hang their clothes on a clothesline.
Ventilators invented by Pochons’ ventilator
A new high-pressure ventilator has been developed by NASA engineers, called the VITAL. The device, which stands for Ventilator Intervention Technology Accessible Locally, has recently been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for emergency use authorization. The device has many advantages, including being easier to build and use and utilizing existing supply chains and parts to reduce cost and risk. As a result, it could help free up limited supplies of traditional ventilators. The NASA-funded JPL project has reached out to the commercial medical industry to license the technology.
The new device is designed to last for three to four months but wouldn’t replace the current hospital ventilators. These ventilators have become essential parts of treatment for COVID-19 pandemic patients. The FDA has issued a EUA to make more of these devices available to the public.
Modern ventilators use microprocessors to control the amount and timing of air delivered to the lungs. The improved control of the device has improved survival rates. The Mark 7 is considered the first modern medical respirator. But it’s important to note that the device has evolved over the years.
Tumble dryers invented by Maytag Corporation
Maytag Corporation is an American manufacturer of laundry appliances and a world-famous brand. The company was founded in 1893 and has been around ever since. Over the years, they have created many products, from threshing machines to tank parts and commercial appliances. The company has survived both world wars and economic downturns. The company has also acquired many companies and continues to innovate.
In the early 1990s, the company was profitable, and its sales were growing. The company surpassed $3 billion in revenues and had a net income of $162.4 million in 1996. The company would have seen higher profits if not for a restructuring charge. The restructuring charge was related to the consolidation of Maytag’s primary appliance operations. This included the Jenn-Air and Admiral operations and the Magic Chef brand.
The Maytag Corporation survived the Great Depression without losing money. In 1940, E.H. Maytag passed away, and his son, Fred Maytag II, became Maytag’s president. During World War II, Maytag suspended the manufacturing of washing machines while the company worked on military-related projects. During the war, the company made bomb cylinders more lightweight than washing machines. These improvements cut the weight of the bomb cylinder by two pounds and simplified the manufacturing process. The company eventually sold washing machines, dryers, and other major appliances.
In late 1997, Maytag acquired G.S. Blodgett Corporation, which traced its roots to the Blodgett Oven Co., founded in Burlington, Vermont, in 1848. The company made commercial ovens, fryers, and charbroilers. The acquisition made the company’s product line more diverse and logical. In addition, it marked Maytag’s first acquisition since 1989.
Tumble dryers are a 21st-century technology.
While tumble dryers have been around for 200 years, they’ve undergone significant improvements over the decades. Modern tumble dryers have features like automatic shutoff, timers, and temperature controls. They can also control the level of dryness. In the 1950s, a dryness sensor was introduced, automatically turning the dryer off when the clothes are dry.
The original Pochon clothes dryer left clothes dusted in soot and smelling of smoke. Pochon’s dryer had a ventilation system consisting of a metal drum with holes. Today’s tumble dryers use a similar ventilation system. In 1892, American inventor George Sampson patented the term “clothes dryer” and improved Pochon’s design by replacing the open-fire concept with a stove.
In the early nineteenth century, clothing was often left to dry in the sun. This slow process required vigorously wringing the washboard and hanging it on a clothesline. It was a marathon that took all day. But in 1799, French inventor Pochons invented the ventilator, which used hot air to dry clothes. This ventilator featured hundreds of tiny holes that allowed hot air to rise through the drum. In addition to the ventilation system, the drum was equipped with paddles, continually tossing the clothing. The hot air then fell through the dress.
Tumble dryers can be as small as four kilograms or as large as nine or ten kilograms. The size of the drum will determine how much drying capacity you need. An eight- to nine-kilogram drum capacity should be sufficient for the average household. A 9-kg drum will allow you to dry a king-sized duvet and 45 shirts.
