Patents by Inventor Christopher J. Woerdehoff

Christopher J. Woerdehoff has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Method for operating a clothes dryer using load temperature determined by an infrared sensor
    Patent number: 9580860
    Abstract: A method for controlling a clothes dryer based on a characteristic of the load determined by temperatures provided by an infrared sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan R. Bellinger, Fredrick E. Chernetski, Christopher J. Woerdehoff
  • End of cycle detection for a laundry treating appliance
    Patent number: 8819958
    Abstract: A method of operating a laundry treating appliance having a rotatable treating chamber for receiving laundry to be dried according to a predetermined cycle of operation and determining when the laundry is dry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan R. Bellinger, Christopher J. Woerdehoff
  • Apparatus and method of drying laundry with drying uniformity determination
    Patent number: 8549770
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of drying laundry in a treating chamber with a partially dry laundry load determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan R. Bellinger, Andrew E. Spangler, Christopher J. Woerdehoff
  • Method to detect an empty load in a clothes dryer
    Patent number: 8474152
    Abstract: A method for determining an empty load in a clothes dryer having a drying chamber with an air inlet, an air outlet and operable according to a predetermined cycle of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan R. Bellinger, David M. Williams, Christopher J. Woerdehoff
  • Method to detect an end of cycle in a clothes dryer
    Patent number: 8468717
    Abstract: A method for determining an end of cycle in a clothes dryer having a drying chamber with an air inlet, an air outlet and operable according to a predetermined cycle of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan R. Bellinger, David M. Williams, Christopher J. Woerdehoff
  • Laundry treating appliance with voltage detection
    Patent number: 8441248
    Abstract: A method of determining a voltage and phase across an electric heating element in a laundry treating appliance, such as a clothes dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Jason P. Kachorek, David J. Kmet, Jason W. Parker, David M. Williams, Christopher J. Woerdehoff
  • END OF CYCLE DETECTION FOR A LAUNDRY TREATING APPLIANCE
    Publication number: 20120110869
    Abstract: A method of operating a laundry treating appliance having a rotatable treating chamber for receiving laundry to be dried according to a predetermined cycle of operation and determining when the laundry is dry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: RYAN R. BELLINGER, CHRISTOPHER J. WOERDEHOFF
  • LAUNDRY TREATING APPLIANCE WITH VOLTAGE DETECTION
    Publication number: 20120098521
    Abstract: A method of determining a voltage and phase across an electric heating element in a laundry treating appliance, such as a clothes dryer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: JASON P. KACHOREK, DAVID J. KMET, JASON W. PARKER, DAVID M. WILLIAMS, CHRISTOPHER J. WOERDEHOFF
  • METHOD TO DETECT AN EMPTY LOAD IN A CLOTHES DRYER
    Publication number: 20120084996
    Abstract: A method for determining an empty load in a clothes dryer having a drying chamber with an air inlet, an air outlet and operable according to a predetermined cycle of operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: RYAN R. BELLINGER, DAVID M. WILLIAMS, CHRISTOPHER J. WOERDEHOFF
  • METHOD TO DETECT AN END OF CYCLE IN A CLOTHES DRYER
    Publication number: 20120084997
    Abstract: A method for determining an end of cycle in a clothes dryer having a drying chamber with an air inlet, an air outlet and operable according to a predetermined cycle of operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: RYAN R. BELLINGER, DAVID M. WILLIAMS, CHRISTOPHER J. WOERDEHOFF
  • APPARATUS AND METHOD OF DRYING LAUNDRY WITH DRYING UNIFORMITY DETERMINATION
    Publication number: 20110308103
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of drying laundry in a treating chamber with a partially dry laundry load determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: RYAN R. BELLINGER, ANDREW E. SPANGLER, CHRISTOPHER J. WOERDEHOFF
  • METHOD FOR OPERATING A CLOTHES DRYER USING LOAD TEMPERATURE DETERMINED BY AN INFRARED SENSOR
    Publication number: 20110146101
    Abstract: A method for controlling a clothes dryer based on a characteristic of the load determined by temperatures provided by an infrared sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: RYAN R. BELLINGER, FREDRICK E. CHERNETSKI, CHRISTOPHER J. WOERDEHOFF
  • Combined temperature sensor for clothes dryer
    Patent number: 7444762
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew C. Reck, Shawn R. Oltz, Steven D. Ficke, Michele A. Paustian, Christopher J. Woerdehoff, Joshua P. Carroll, Mark E. Glotzbach, James P. Carow
  • Fuzzy logic control for an electric clothes dryer
    Patent number: 6446357
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the drying cycle of a dryer by utilizing fuzzy logic control. Control is accomplished by first monitoring the moisture level of a clothes load in the dryer. From the monitored moisture information, variables such as the elapsed time from the start of the drying cycle to a point when no significant moisture is detected for a specified time period and the number of times higher moisture registrations occur during another specified time period are determined. Based on the determined variables, fuzzy logic is used to determine characteristics particular to the clothes load being dried, such as size of the load. Using the determined characteristics in conjunction with user settings more accurate control of the time of drying heat application, reduced drying heat application and cool down time can be accomplished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Woerdehoff, Patrick J. Glotzbach, Andrew C. Reck, Joseph M. Szynal, Beth A. Maddix
  • Fuzzy login control for an electric clothes dryer
    Publication number: 20020000049
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the drying cycle of a dryer by utilizing fuzzy logic control. Control is accomplished by first monitoring the moisture level of a clothes load in the dryer. From the monitored moisture information, variables such as the elapsed time from the start of the drying cycle to a point when no significant moisture is detected for a specified time period and the number of times higher moisture registrations occur during another specified time period are determined. Based on the determined variables, fuzzy logic is used to determine characteristics particular to the clothes load being dried, such as size of the load. Using the determined characteristics in conjunction with user settings more accurate control of the time of drying heat application, reduced drying heat application and cool down time can be accomplished.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2001
    Publication date: January 3, 2002
    Inventors: Christopher J. Woerdehoff, Patrick J. Glotzbach, Andrew C. Reck, Joseph M. Szynal, Beth A. Maddix