Method and apparatus for controlling the drying stage in a clothes dryer, washing machine or the like

Patent 5228212 Issued on July 20, 1993. Estimated Expiration Date:

October 15, 2011. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

Tumbler dryer for the drying of laundry
Patent #: 4485566
Issued on: 12/04/1984
Inventor: Vivares

Clothes dryer having variable position motor and moisture sensor
Patent #: 4546554
Issued on: 10/15/1985
Inventor: Bullock , et al.

Drying machine
Patent #: 4738034
Issued on: 04/19/1988
Inventor: Muramatsu , et al.

Apparatus and method for controlling a drying cycle of a clothes dryer Patent #: 4827627
Issued on: 05/09/1989
Inventor: Cardoso

Inventors

Assignee

Whirlpool International B.V.

Application

No. 776157 filed on 10/15/1991

US Classes:

34/493, Temperature of treating gas or vapor controlled34/77Recirculation of treating gas or vapor

Examiners

Primary: Bennett, Henry
Assistant: Gromada, Denise L.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Turcotte; Thomas E., Krefman; Stephen D., Roth; Thomas J.

International Class

F26B 003/00

Foreign Application Priority Data

1990-10-18 IT

Abstract

A method for controlling the length of a cycle for drying clothes contained in the drum of a clothes dryer machine, comprising measuring the quantity of water released by the clothes within a predetermined time during their drying, a signal being provided for stopping the machine if the measurement obtained is less than a predetermined value. The method includes measuring the quantity of water released from the clothes during their drying and employs apparatus to generate signals based on this measurement, the signals being fed to a control unit which controls air circulation through the drum and heating of the circulated air, the control unit monitoring the measured water released quantity, and acting to terminate the drying cycle when the variation has a negative gradient and when the signals correspond to a measured water quantity which is constant with time.