And Gas Or Vapor Flow Regulating Means Patents (Class 34/606)
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Patent number: 8042282Abstract: A drum for a clothes dryer in which an internal structure, especially, a baffle structure, of the drum is improved to prevent target items from being entangled and damaged during a drying operation to thereby improve the drying efficiency of the clothes dryer. Rotatable balls are inserted in the baffles mounted on an internal surface of the drum, the mounting arrangement of the baffles is changed, or the baffles are modified to thus improve the drying operation. In addition, an absorbent is filled in the baffles to thus increase the drying efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2007Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Jung-Geun Oh, Sang-Ik Lee, Sang-Hun Bae, Sung-Ho Song, Jae-Hak Joung, Yoon-Seob Eom
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Patent number: 8042284Abstract: A heating system and a method of controlling the heating system are provided. When a heating unit and a switch are turned on and off repeatedly by the predetermined number of times or more, only some of heaters of the heating unit are turned on, thereby increasing service life of the heating unit and the switch.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2007Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Hea Kyung Yoo, Seog Ho Go
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Patent number: 8028439Abstract: A clothes dryer bearing structure has an arcuate channel for receiving the open end of a dryer drum. The channel has an inner wall portion, a base wall portion extending radially outward from the inner wall portion and an outer wall portion extending from the base wall portion. A gasket is positioned in the channel in contact with the dryer drum. The outer wall portion has a plurality of spaced apart elongated clips formed on the outer wall portion and curving back into the channel. At least one of the outer wall portion and the base wall portion has a plurality of elongated bumps protruding into the channel. Each of the elongated bumps is interspaced between the elongated clips whereby the gasket lies serpentinely in the channel ascending over bumps and descending below the clips to prevent slippage of the gasket along the channel during dryer drum rotation.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2008Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Mabe Canada Inc.Inventor: Gabriel Prajescu
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Patent number: 8024871Abstract: The present invention relates to an exhaust structure for a clothes dryer in an apartment building. The exhaust structure includes at least one riser pipe mounted in a vertical direction crossing every floor of a building to discharge exhaust gas, a plurality of branch pipes branched from the riser pipe to a household in the every floor to guide exhaust gas from the household to the riser pipe, and a fan mounted above a top of the riser pipe and operating in proportion to the amount of exhaust gas in the riser pipe.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2007Date of Patent: September 27, 2011Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: In Hee Han, Won Tug Son
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Patent number: 7987616Abstract: The present invention relates to a laundry machine. The laundry machine includes a drum rotatably mounted in a cabinet, a hot air heater to heat air and supply hot air into the drum, a steam generator to supply steam into the drum, a water supply source detachably mounted in the cabinet to supply water into the steam generator, and a water leakage preventing unit to prevent water leakage when the water supply source is detachably mounted.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2007Date of Patent: August 2, 2011Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Sang Hun Bae, Chang Woo Son, Chul Jin Choi, Dong Hyun Kim, Young Bok Son, Heung Jae Kim
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Patent number: 7987615Abstract: The present invention relates to an exhaust structure for a clothes dryer in an apartment building. The exhaust structure includes at least one riser pipe mounted in a vertical direction crossing every floor of a building, a plurality of branch pipes branched from the riser pipe to a household in the every floor to guide exhaust gas from the household to the riser pipe, a lint filter provided in each of the plurality of branch pipes to filter lint included in the exhaust gas, a first pressure sensor provided in front of the lint filter to sense a pressure in each of the plurality of branch pipes, and a filter controller to determine whether the lint filter is blocked, by receiving a value of the pressure sensed by the first pressure sensor.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2007Date of Patent: August 2, 2011Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: In Hee Han, Won Tug Son
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Patent number: 7984568Abstract: A condensation washer-dryer, in particular, the air-guiding process. The base module is used to receive function parts and components of the air guide and is closed on the rear side by means of a process air cover and forms a plastic, stable support structure for the washer-dryer. The connecting surfaces are large and extend, preferably, over the entire width of the washer-dryer. Due to said embodiment, air guiding channels are formed in a simple manner on the rear side of the base module and the housing of the process air ventilator is closed on the rear side. Sealing elements are no longer required due to said welding of said type of connection and an exceptionally high mechanical rigidity is obtained.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2006Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbHInventors: Lothar Dittmer, Holger Löffler
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Patent number: 7975400Abstract: A device for determining the conductance of laundry in a drier. The device comprises at least two electrodes (2) and means for dissipating heat from at least one part of at least one of said electrodes (2). The invention further relates to a drier comprising at least one area (5) for receiving laundry and at least two electrodes (2) for measuring the conductance of the laundry, at least one of the electrodes (2) at least partly bordering said receiving area (5). Means for cooling at least one part of at least one of the electrodes (2) are also provided inside the drier. Also disclosed is a method for preventing the formation of layers on electrodes (2) used for measuring conductance in a drier.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2003Date of Patent: July 12, 2011Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbHInventors: Lothar Dittmer, Harald Moschuetz, Thomas Nawrot, Andreas Ziemann
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Patent number: 7971371Abstract: A clothes dryer has a degree of dryness control system that is responsive to moisture level of clothing articles tumbling in a drum and a target moisture value to control the drying cycle of the clothes dryer. The clothes dryer has a load size parameter producing module and an air flow detection parameter module. These modules generate one of two parameter conditions used by the processor to modify or select an appropriate moisture target value. The load size producing parameter module generates one of a small load input parameter and a large load input parameter. The air flow detection module produces one of a first and second air flow parameter to be utilized by the degree of dryness processor. As a result, the processor selects one of four target moisture values from these conditions.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2007Date of Patent: July 5, 2011Assignee: Mabe Canada Inc.Inventor: Sébastien Beaulac
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Patent number: 7926201Abstract: A clogging detecting apparatus for a dryer is provided that checks and displays a clogging degree of an air passage. The clogging detecting apparatus includes a judgment device for judging the clogging degree of the air passage, a storing device for storing the clogging degree of the air passage, and a display for displaying the clogging degree to the user. The clogging detecting apparatus provides information on the clogging degree, so that the user precisely checks the state of the air passage.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2007Date of Patent: April 19, 2011Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Ju-hyun Kim, Kyung-hun Kim, Sun-cheol Bae, Jin-seok Hu, Yang-hwan Kim, Ju-young Min, Ja-in Koo
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Patent number: 7926202Abstract: A base module for a condenser tumble dryer housing the functional parts and air conduction components and additionally being configured as part of the support structure of the tumble dryer. The base module comprises perpendicular joint faces in relation to the front end shield and the rear process air cover. The joint faces lie essentially on at least one perpendicular plane or on at least two perpendicular planes that are offset in a staggered manner in relation to one another, have a large surface area and preferably extend over the entire width of the tumble dryer. The proposed base module has significant advantages in terms of its mechanical stability as an individual structural component and as part of the entire support structure and in terms of the effective conduction of the air streams, the production of the individual parts and the assembly of the final module.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2006Date of Patent: April 19, 2011Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbHInventors: Lothar Dittmer, Holger Löffler
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Patent number: 7921578Abstract: A nebulizer assembly for use in a fabrics revitalizing system having a fabric treatment chamber comprises a fluid reservoir configured to contain a fluid; an air flow channel in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir; a mist generator configured to generate a mist in the fluid reservoir; and a fan in fluid communication with the air flow channel to draw air through the air flow channel and transport the mist to the interior of the fabric treatment chamber. The nebulizer assembly can include a transitional assembly that communicates the nebulizer assembly with the fabric treatment chamber.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2006Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Karl D. McAllister, Alexander V. Minkin
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Patent number: 7900372Abstract: A clothes dryer has horizontally extending louvres located in its rear cabinet wall that permit ambient air to enter the dryer cabinet during normal dryer operation. U-shaped cover brackets are positioned to horizontally extend and cover the louvres where the brackets each define a horizontally extending airflow channel having opposing open ends. Air entering the dryer flows through the louvres along the airflow channels and out through the open ends. The cover bracket helps to contain a fire within the dryer cabinet should one occur by restricting flow of ignited particles and other debris as a result of a fire from exiting through the louvre.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2008Date of Patent: March 8, 2011Assignee: Mabe Canada Inc.Inventors: Silvia Ionelia Prajescu, Pasquale Antonio Renzo, Dominique Larochelle
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Patent number: 7895771Abstract: A clothes dryer has a thermal insulation pad placed in a confined space in the dryer cabinet between the blower fan housing and the dryer cabinet side wall closest to the blower fan housing. The thermal insulation pad is press fit into the space so as to take up much of the volume of the confined space preventing the accumulation of dust or lint over time in the confined space while also preventing the flow of oxygen to the confined space. Accordingly, the thermal insulation pad reduces the risk of a fire starting in the confined area of the dryer cabinet between the blower wheel housing and the adjacent side wall of the cabinet. A thermal insulation pad also acts as sound insulation.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2008Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: Mabe Canada Inc.Inventors: Silvia Ionelia Prajescu, Pasquale Antonio Renzo
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Patent number: 7866061Abstract: A clothes dryer includes a water tub, a rotating container located in the tub, a drive unit rotating the container, an air circulation blower circulating air in the tub, and a heat pump formed by circularly connecting an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor, a discharge airflow path leading to the outside of the clothes dryer, an airflow path switching unit switched so as to open the portion between the container and the evaporator in an airflow path in the drying operation, and to open the discharge airflow path in cooling a place where the clothes dryer is placed, an air inlet located in an upper wall between the evaporator and the condenser in the airflow path, an air discharge blower introducing air outside the airflow path from the air inlet to be passed through the evaporator, and a cooling device that cools down the condenser.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2006Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Ha Products Co., Ltd., Toshiba Consumer Marketing CorporationInventors: Hisao Tatsumi, Koji Kashima
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Patent number: 7836607Abstract: A drum assembly of a laundry dryer includes a cylindrical drum main body formed through a seam-welding process, a drum head including a main head rim having a predetermined width in a direction toward a center of the drum main body, the main head rim being coupled to a first end of the drum main body and provided with a plurality of elevated portion, and a support sleeve bent from an end of the main head rim, a drum rear wall coupled to a second end of the drum main body and provided with a plurality of hot wind introducing holes, and a lift coupled to an inner circumference of the drum main body to lift the laundry.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2005Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventor: Chang Wook Kim
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Patent number: 7661203Abstract: A loading basket (6) for a washing machine (1) comprises a rear wall (8), a front wall (9) opposite the rear wall (8) and a side wall (7) defining an inner space (10) of the basket, as well as one or more dragging blades (12) arranged on the side wall (7) and projecting to the inside of the basket. The side wall (7) comprises a drilling with a plurality of small through holes (13), which are arranged at the vertex of respective domes (14) projecting to the outside of the basket (6), as well as a plurality of rounded projections (18) in the shape of a spherical dome without through holes and projecting to the inside (10) of the basket (6).Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2007Date of Patent: February 16, 2010Assignee: Candy S.p.A.Inventor: Silvano Fumagalli
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Patent number: 7559156Abstract: A door assembly having a viewing window for use with a clothes dryer cabinet has a mask frame for masking the view of the door assembly and for securing an inner window in the assembly. The door assembly further utilizes the hinge structure and a horizontally disposed retainer to retain the inner window in place when the door assembly is complete. The inner window is mounted within the door assembly to slope downwardly and rearwardly of the inner door frame support. When the door is closed, the sloping inner window is positioned to cover a lint trap opening in the dryer while optimizing space within the dryer due to the sloping window wall.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2006Date of Patent: July 14, 2009Assignee: Mabe Canada Inc.Inventor: Pasquale Antonio Renzo
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Patent number: 7543396Abstract: A laundry apparatus according to the present invention ensures an improved laundry drying efficiency. In the laundry apparatus, an air guide (71) is provided on an upper edge portion of an outer tub opening (4a) as being opposed to an air inlet (6). Drying air flowing downward from the air inlet (6) to be supplied to the outer tub opening (4a) impinges on an inclined wall (72) of the air guide (71). The drying air impinging on the inclined wall (72) is deflected into a drum (5) through a drum opening (5a) (as indicated by a broken-line arrow). Thus, the drying air is prevented from further flowing downward in the outer tub opening (4a) into a gap (70) defined between the outer tub (4) and the drum (5), but supplied to laundry in the drum (5).Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2007Date of Patent: June 9, 2009Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Sanyo Electric Techno Create Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masafumi Nishino, Kazushige Murakami, Mitsuru Naganawa
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Patent number: 7506458Abstract: A drying machine having a drum mounted within a cabinet on a base unit is provided. The base unit includes a base lower unit, and a base upper unit positioned atop the base lower unit to define passages therebetween. The base unit includes a moisture sensor mounting portion that receives a moisture sensor on a top of the base upper unit. The moisture sensor senses a moisture level of air flowing through the passages.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2006Date of Patent: March 24, 2009Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Soon Jo Lee, Hwan Joo Myung
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Patent number: 7444762Abstract: A clothes dryer has a system for regulating the inlet air temperature. The system includes a first sensor located in an inlet of the dryer and including a thermistor and a thermostat, a heat source located in a heater box adjacent the first sensor, and a second sensor located in an exhaust of the dryer. The thermistor measures the inlet air temperature of the dryer and cooperates with the controller to prevent the thermostat from reaching its trip temperature and turning off the heat source. Thus, damage due to excessive air temperatures in the dryer is prevented.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2005Date of Patent: November 4, 2008Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Andrew C. Reck, Shawn R. Oltz, Steven D. Ficke, Michele A. Paustian, Christopher J. Woerdehoff, Joshua P. Carroll, Mark E. Glotzbach, James P. Carow
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Patent number: 7434334Abstract: The present invention provides a dryer, by which a simpler assembly between a rear supporter and a back cover is provided. The dryer includes a back cover covering a rear side of the dryer, a drum containing a laundry and rotating to dry the laundry, a rear supporter supporting a rear side of the drum, and at least one latching part provided to an upper side of the back cover to latch an upper edge of the rear supporter.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2004Date of Patent: October 14, 2008Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Sung Gi Hwang, Il Tak Han, Jeung Gie Ahn
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Patent number: 7409776Abstract: An object is to provide a drying machine capable of maintaining air discharged into a housing chamber while efficiently drying a matter to be dried in a short time. A drying machine provided with a housing chamber which houses the matter to be dried, and executing a drying operation of the matter to be dried in the housing chamber comprises: a gas cooler; an evaporator; a blower fan; an air circulation path for discharging air heated by the gas cooler into the housing chamber by the blower fan, sending the air passed through the housing chamber into the evaporator, and circulating the air in the gas cooler; and a closeable outside air introduction port for mixing outside air with the air circulating in the air circulation path.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2005Date of Patent: August 12, 2008Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Koji Ono, Kazuyoshi Tomochika
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Patent number: 7406780Abstract: There is provided an air inlet structure of a laundry dryer. In the air inlet structure, a base defines an air inlet, a front cabinet is disposed in front of the base and defines a suction hole to pass ambient air into the base, a cooling fan is stably disposed in the base to suck the ambient air, a blower tube forms a flow passage for the ambient air, a blower cover is fixed to the base to connect the blower tube and the cooling fan, and an air guide is disposed between the base and the blower cover, the air guide having a shroud at a center portion.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2006Date of Patent: August 5, 2008Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Young Jin Doh, Soon Jo Lee, Young Hwan Park, Jun Seok Lee, Kyung Seop Hong, Soo Won Park, Hwan Joo Myung
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Patent number: 7395612Abstract: A drum for use in a dryer is provided. The drum includes a plurality of segments joined axially to form the drum's cylindrical shape. The drum has a simple structure enabling the use of standardized segments to facilitate dryer manufacture by reducing production costs, increasing productivity, and reducing failure rates. The drum, which has a cylindrical shape, is composed of a plurality of segments, preferably, three, each arranged axially with respect to the axis of the drum. The drum includes a coupling mechanism, provided on each side edge of each segment, for joining the segments to form the cylindrical shape of the drum.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2004Date of Patent: July 8, 2008Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Seong Hai Jeong, Ju Han Yoon, Soo Won Park, In Hee Han
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Patent number: 7325330Abstract: Apparatus and method for eliminating wrinkles in clothes in a washing or drying machine using steam to eliminate the wrinkles in clothes, in a state in which the clothes are worn by a user or stored, as well as in a state in which washing of the clothes is terminated. The method includes determining whether or not a wrinkle-eliminating course is selected; supplying hot air to the clothes to eliminate dust from the clothes when it is determined that the wrinkle-eliminating course is selected; and supplying steam to the clothes, from which the dust was eliminated, to eliminate the wrinkles in the clothes.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2005Date of Patent: February 5, 2008Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hyun Suk Kim, Hyung Gyoon Kim, Seon Woo Park, Seong Min Oak, Jee Hun Park, Yoon Sook Lee
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Patent number: 7322126Abstract: A clothes dryer has a degree of dryness control system that is responsive to moisture level of clothing articles tumbling in a drum and a target moisture value to control the drying cycle of the clothes dryer. The clothes dryer has a load size parameter producing module and an air flow detection parameter module. These modules generate one of two parameter conditions used by the processor to modify or select an appropriate moisture target value. The load size producing parameter module generates one of a small load input parameter and a large load input parameter. The air flow detection module produces one of a first and second air flow parameter to be utilized by the degree of dryness processor. As a result, the processor selects one of four target moisture values from these conditions.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2006Date of Patent: January 29, 2008Assignee: Mabe Canada Inc.Inventor: Sébastien Beaulac
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Patent number: 7194823Abstract: A clothes drying apparatus includes a heat pump mechanism, an air path for guiding drying air into a drying drum accommodating therein clothes, a blower for supplying drying air to the air path, and a controller for controlling a driving of a compressor, wherein the controller operates the blower and the compressor during a drying operation; stops the compressor in case the drying operation is suspended; and operates, in case the drying operation is resumed, the compressor after a certain time period has elapsed since the compressor had stopped. In case employing the heat pump mechanism having the compressor as a heat source, it is possible to reduce a load on the compressor and allow temperature of warm air to rapidly return by using the heat pump mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2004Date of Patent: March 27, 2007Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shigeharu Nakamoto, Hidetaka Yabuuchi, Hajime Nojima, Masayuki Tanaka
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Patent number: 7093374Abstract: A clothes dryer and a method of controlling the clothes dryer. The method detects conditions of clothes using a sensor, and performs at least one of: a complex drying function to perform a drying operation, a deodorizing operation, and a wrinkle removing operation; a wrinkle removing function to perform the wrinkle removing operation and the drying operation; and a drying function to perform the drying operation, according to the detected conditions of the clothes. Accordingly, the clothes dryer is capable of not only drying the clothes, but also deodorizing the clothes and removing wrinkles. Additionally, the clothes dryer is capable of detecting conditions of clothes accommodated in a chamber, and drying and deodorizing the clothes as occasion demands, thus maintaining the clothes for a long period.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2004Date of Patent: August 22, 2006Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Byoung Yull Yang, Hyung-Gyoon Kim, Sang-Yeon Pyo, Seon-Woo Park, Hye Soon Yang, Seong Min Oak, Jae-Ryong Park, Hyun Sook Kim
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Patent number: 7069669Abstract: A clothes dryer comprises: a cabinet; a drum rotatably installed within the cabinet; and an exhaust port for discharging air having passed through the drum, wherein the exhaust port includes first and second exhaust pipes respectively diverged to both sides of the cabinet, and exits of the first and second exhaust pipes are arranged at positions rotationally symmetric to each other by 180° with respect to a vertical axis passing through the center of the cabinet. Since panels constituting right and left walls of the cabinet are fabricated by one process thus to be commonly applied to the right and left sides of the cabinet, the number of fabrication processes is reduced thus to enhance a productivity.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2004Date of Patent: July 4, 2006Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Young-Hwan Park, Si-Moon Jeon
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Patent number: 7062863Abstract: A washing machine and method of controlling a drying process thereof is provided. The washing machine includes a water temperature detecting unit and a controller. The water temperature detecting unit is disposed in a condensing duct to detect temperatures of condensed water. The controller determines whether an end of a drying process is reached based upon the water temperatures detected by the water temperature detecting unit, and terminates the drying process depending on a result of the determination. Accordingly, the drying process may be terminated without delay, irrespective of various factors, such as a weight of the laundry, moisture contained in the laundry, and the temperature of cold water supplied to an inside of the condensing duct, so that a drying performance is improved, excessive drying and damage to the laundry are prevented and energy is saved.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2004Date of Patent: June 20, 2006Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Young-Suk Chung
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Patent number: 7024795Abstract: A drying apparatus having a purpose of shortening a drying time of laundry, comprising an accommodating chamber in which the laundry is accommodated, and executing a washing operation of the laundry and a drying operation after end of the washing operation in the accommodating chamber, the machine comprising: a refrigerant circuit in which a compressor, a gas cooler, an expansion valve, and an evaporator are successively connected to one another in an annular form via a piping; an air circulation path for discharging air which has exchanged heat with the gas cooler into the accommodating chamber by a blower to exchange the heat of the air passed through the accommodating chamber with the evaporator; and a control device for operating the compressor and the blower to perform the drying operation, wherein the control device starts the operation of the compressor before entering the drying operation.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2004Date of Patent: April 11, 2006Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masaya Tadano, Shinichi Akiyama, Nobuo Koumoto, Toru Kawabata, Ryoko Kubo, Hiroshi Mukaiyama, Kazuyoshi Tomochika, Koji Ono
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Patent number: 6966126Abstract: A laundry drier includes a filter is disposed removably in the air duct carrying the process air and is held in an at least two-part foldable frame. To extend its functionality with a view to the binding of odors from the laundry items, the filter contains a charcoal-fiber insert that is equipped to combine and/or convert odorous substances.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2002Date of Patent: November 22, 2005Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbHInventor: Martin Baurmann
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Patent number: 6928745Abstract: An appliance with an internal working space has a door to provide access to the working space. A control panel is operatively mounted on the appliance. A seal mounted on the door sealingly engages with an upright wall on the control panel when the door is closed to prevent migration of moisture toward the components of the control panel.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2003Date of Patent: August 16, 2005Assignee: Maytag CorporationInventors: Chris P. Lickiss, Curtis J. Tremel, Joseph M. Keeler, Troy A. Johnson, Michael C. Roberts, Burton R. Vander Schel, Dale D. Vander Heiden
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Patent number: 6874250Abstract: A clothes dryer has a first four pole motor that rotates a rotatable drum in the dryer through a transmission system. The clothes dryer has a second two pole self speed regulated induction motor connected to a blower fan in the air passageway of the dryer. The second motor rotates the fan to draw air out of the dryer and exhaust the air to an external vent. The second motor provides a long venting application and has a slip characteristic whereby the speed of the second motor automatically varies directly proportional to air flow restrictions associated with the external vent.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2003Date of Patent: April 5, 2005Assignee: Camco Inc.Inventors: Silvia Prajescu, Serena Hum
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Publication number: 20040200093Abstract: System and method for controlling an appliance for drying clothing articles is provided. The appliance has a container for receiving the clothing articles. A motor is provided for rotating the container about an axis. A heater is provided for supplying heated air to the container during a dry cycle. A sensor is provided for providing a signal indicative of moisture content of the articles. Memory is provided memory for storing historical stop time data of respective dry cycles. A noise-reduction filter is coupled to receive the signal from the moisture sensor to provide selectable filtering to that signal. A timer provides a signal indicative of elapsed time upon start of the dry cycle. A module is responsive to the historical data in the memory for determining an initial estimate of the stop time of the dry cycle to be executed. A processor allows for estimating the stop time of the dry cycle as the cycle is being executed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2004Publication date: October 14, 2004Inventors: William Joseph Wunderlin, Michel Dion, Alexander Carswell Cambon, Mahmoud Fariz Ismail, Zubair Hameed, Cathy Diane Emery
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Patent number: 6796055Abstract: The invention describes a method for the drying of a damp material (2), whereby the material (2) is treated in a treatment chamber (15) of a drying cabinet (1) in a mechanically immobile condition, in which air (10) is directed through the treatment chamber (15) and over a condenser (13) and the moisture in the air (10) can condense at the condenser (13) and be led away.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2003Date of Patent: September 28, 2004Inventor: Hans Baltes
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Patent number: 6792694Abstract: A control system for a clothes dryer has an inlet thermister located in the air flow system prior to the dryer drum to monitor the inlet temperature. This inlet temperature signal is provided to a microprocessor which samples this temperature over time and when this temperature exceeds a predetermined rate of increase with respect to time, the microprocessor generates an air flow restriction or blockage signal representing an air flow restriction or blockage in the dryer vent ducting.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2003Date of Patent: September 21, 2004Assignee: Camco Inc.Inventor: Jacques Michel Lapierre
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Publication number: 20040168344Abstract: A laundry drier and control method thereof are provided, by which a new reference voltage is set to perform a next drying procedure if, upon a determination of a completion of a current drying procedure, there is a difference between a voltage representing a sensed level of water content (moisture) present in laundry and a sensed-moisture value at the end of the drying procedure, thereby compensating for the presence of contamination on and around the electrodes of a moisture sensor. The laundry drier includes a heater for performing a drying procedure; a moisture sensor for sensing a level of moisture in laundry during the drying procedure and outputting a voltage signal; a memory for storing a reference voltage value and a voltage value according to the sensed moisture level; and a microcomputer for controlling the heater based on the voltage signal output of the moisture sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2003Publication date: September 2, 2004Inventor: Sang Ho Park
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Publication number: 20040168343Abstract: A laundry drier determines an amount of laundry placed in the drier's drum and controls a dry pattern based on the amount of laundry. The laundry drier includes a rotatable drum having an interior for holding laundry; a moisture sensor, installed with respect to the interior of the rotatable drum, for measuring the water content of the laundry in the rotatable drum and outputting a value indicative of the water content; a voltage converter for converting the water content value output from the moisture sensor to a voltage and outputting a voltage signal; a pulse detector for outputting a pulse count generated from a contact count of the laundry coming into contact with the moisture sensor and outputting a pulsed signal indicative of the contact count; and a microcomputer for controlling the dry pattern based on the respective outputs of the voltage converter and the pulse detector.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2003Publication date: September 2, 2004Inventor: Sang Ho Park
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Publication number: 20040168345Abstract: A drier module, for use in a drier having a drier motor and one of two heat generation devices, namely gas or electric, is an interchange module of a drier of a gas or electric type and may be connected to a drier motor and to a gas control circuit of a gas drier or to an electric heater of an electric drier. During drier assembly, the module is adaptively modified, for example, by setting a switch position according to a desired mode, i.e., the intended drier type.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2003Publication date: September 2, 2004Inventors: Sang Doo Kim, Jae Suk Yang
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Patent number: 6772538Abstract: A dryer vent designed to prevent bird and rodent ingress through the vent and further to prevent lint build-up includes a flap which has an edge portion recessed within the main body of the vent preventing birds and rodents from grasping the flap and opening it. Further, the dryer vent includes a rotating member such as a paddlewheel or a fan blade which rotates in response to air flowing through the vent thereby frightening birds and rodents.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2002Date of Patent: August 10, 2004Assignee: Bluegrass Products, LLCInventor: Michael Vagedes
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Patent number: 6751888Abstract: A control system for a clothes dryer including a temperature sensor and a thermostat for regulating at least one dryer heating element is provided. The control system includes a microcomputer programmed to compensate for a conflict between the thermostat temperature regulation and the temperature sensor temperature regulation during dryer operation at a selected operating temperature.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2002Date of Patent: June 22, 2004Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: William Henry Lueckenbach
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Patent number: 6745495Abstract: A dryer tumble drying articles includes a drum including a cavity configured to hold articles to be dried, a first motor drivingly coupled to the drum to rotate the drum, a heat source in flow communication with the cavity, and a variable speed motor drivingly coupled to a blower positioned to deliver heated air from the heat source to the cavity.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2003Date of Patent: June 8, 2004Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Douglas Allen Riddle, Jeremy Michael Green, James Alan Meyer, Emile Edward Abi-Habib, Zubair Hameed
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Publication number: 20040074105Abstract: A dryer vent designed to prevent bird and rodent ingress through the vent and further to prevent lint build-up includes a flap which has an edge portion recessed within the main body of the vent preventing birds and rodents from grasping the flap and opening it. Further, the dryer vent includes a rotating member such as a paddlewheel or a fan blade which rotates in response to air flowing through the vent thereby frightening birds and rodents.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2002Publication date: April 22, 2004Applicant: Bluegrass Products, L.L.C.Inventor: Michael Vagedes
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Publication number: 20040060196Abstract: A control system for a clothes dryer including a temperature sensor and a thermostat for regulating at least one dryer heating element is provided. The control system includes a microcomputer programmed to compensate for a conflict between the thermostat temperature regulation and the temperature sensor temperature regulation during dryer operation at a selected operating temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2002Publication date: April 1, 2004Applicant: General Electic CompanyInventor: William Henry Lueckenbach
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Patent number: 6678969Abstract: A clothes dryer is disclosed, in which the clothes dryer comprising a first and second connecting ducts communicating with a drum, respectively, a first flow passage control device to communicate a heating duct with the first connecting duct or with the second connecting duct, and a second flow passage control device to communicate an exhaust duct with the first connecting duct or with the second connecting duct. When the first flow passage control device is operated to communicate the heating duct with the first connecting duct, the second flow passage control device is operated to communicate the exhaust duct with the second connecting duct. When the first flow passage control device is operated to communicate the heating duct with the second connecting duct, the second flow passage control device is operated to communicate the exhaust duct with the first connecting duct.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2003Date of Patent: January 20, 2004Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventor: Sang Wook Hong
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Publication number: 20030230005Abstract: A control system for a clothes dryer has an inlet thermister located in the air flow system prior to the dryer drum to monitor the inlet temperature. This inlet temperature signal is provided to a microprocessor which samples this temperature over time and when this temperature exceeds a predetermined rate of increase with respect to time, the microprocessor generates an air flow restriction or blockage signal representing an air flow restriction or blockage in the dryer vent ducting.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2003Publication date: December 18, 2003Applicant: Camco Inc.Inventor: Jacques Michel Lapierre
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Patent number: 6647643Abstract: A clothes dryer, for drying washed clothes, including a drum supported in a case rotatably, for drying clothes inserted to the inside of the case, a driving means installed in the case, for rotating the drum, a suction duct connected to a side of the drum, for supplying heated air to the inside of the drum, an exhaust duct connected to the other side of the drum, for exhausting air which dried the clothes in the drum, a first blowing means installed in the suction duct or the exhaust duct, for flowing air to the inside of the drum and exhausting the air at the same time and a suction increasing means installed in the case, for blowing air into an inlet of the suction duct can improve clothes drying performance and reduce time for drying clothes by increasing the amount of air supplied into the drum.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2002Date of Patent: November 18, 2003Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Sung Bae Song, Sang Wook Hong, Sang Heon Yoon, Hwan Joo Myung
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Patent number: 6637127Abstract: An air flow detecting system is provided for monitoring air flow in a dryer system. The dryer system has an exhaust passage through which air from a drying compartment flows. The air flow detecting system includes a detector for monitoring a rate at which air from the drying compartment travels through the exhaust passage, and a signal generator. The signal generator is responsive to the detector and generates an electrical signal for which at least one of phase, frequency, voltage, or current varies over a continuous range based on a measured flow rate.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2001Date of Patent: October 28, 2003Assignee: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: Ivan Reede, Marc Villeneuve, David G. Allen