Temperature Or Moisture Content Of Treated Material Or Chamber Controls Or Directs Gas Or Vapor Patents (Class 34/491)
  • Publication number: 20110167670
    Abstract: An overall restoration system useful in removing moisture from structures is provided. The contemplated system includes a power and control device, a series of sensors, and a number of various different drying equipment, all capable of communication with a remote server. The system is highly portable, flexible and cost-efficient to manufacture and operate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: KARCHER NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Stephen John Stamm, Eric Lynn Shark, Nicholas Brian O'Kane, Ray Chapman, E. Scott Geschwentner, Sean William Flickinger
  • Patent number: 7966742
    Abstract: A method for increasing the efficiency of an internal combustion engine utilizes three three-way valves, one that receives ambient air through an air cleaner, a second that receives hot exhaust from a catalytic converter of the internal combustion engine, and a third that receives air from a high speed blower. The three-way valves direct ambient air through the air cleaner and into a first of three dryer canisters, and direct the dried ambient air through an ozone generator to the internal combustion engine, while concurrently directing gas from the exhaust catalytic converter to the second of the three dryer canisters, and also concurrently directing air from the high speed blower to the third of the three dryer canisters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Inventors: Daniel Mac Brown, Bobby Joe Farmer
  • Patent number: 7900374
    Abstract: An automatic drying apparatus and a method of controlling the same is disclosed, enabling exact drying by using a humidity sensor (37) provided at a location having a stabilized output characteristic for automatic drying, the automatic drying apparatus including a heating apparatus (31) for heating air supplied into a drum into which a drying object is introduced, a fan (32) for forcibly drawing air into the drum; and a humidity sensor (37) provided between the fan (32) and the heating apparatus (37) such that a sensing surface is positioned to be parallel to a flowing direction of air passed through the fan (32), for outputting a sensing voltage value for determining dryness of the drying object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sun Cheol Bae, Dae Woong Kim, Chang Woo Son
  • Patent number: 7765715
    Abstract: A drying apparatus and a controlling method thereof are provided. During an initial phase of drying operation according to a selected drying cycle, a point of terminating the drying operation is calculated based on a moisture level sensed by a moisture sensor and a moisture output quantity stored in the storage. Drying is performed up to the calculated point of drying operation termination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Sang Doo Kim
  • Patent number: 7735239
    Abstract: A drying machine according to the present invention includes an interface unit connected to a separate washing machine with a data communication line for receiving load information from the washing machine, a rotatable drum containing a load of wet clothes which are previously washed by the washing machine, and an air supply system coupled to the drum for supplying dry air into the drum. The machine further includes a heater coupled to the air supply system for heating the dry air, and a dryer controller generating a control signal to the heater in accordance with a set of operation values which are determined based on the load information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hae Deog Jeong, In Haeng Cho, Jae Suk Yang
  • Publication number: 20090255146
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of supplying steam (38) to a fabrics storage compartment (6) of a treatment apparatus (2), in particular a dryer, a refreshment apparatus or a washing machine having drying function, comprising the steps of: flowing air through the storage compartment (6) until a predefined temperature and/or humidity has been effected; and supplying steam (38) at a predefined flow and/or temperature to the storage compartment (6). The invention also relates to a method of supplying steam (38) to a fabrics storage compartment (6) of a treatment apparatus (2), in particular a dryer, a refreshment apparatus or a washing machine having drying function, wherein the steam flow and/or the temperature of the steam (38) supplied into the storage compartment (6) is set in dependency of at least one process parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V.
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Klug, Thomas Loy
  • Publication number: 20090249639
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a dryer and a method of controlling a cleaning operation thereof that are capable of supplying moisture into a drying chamber of the dryer to wet contaminants in the drying chamber and blowing air to the wetted contaminants to remove the contaminants. The method includes supplying moisture into a drying chamber to wet contaminants in the drying chamber and removing the contaminants wetted by the moisture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tai Eun Kim, Jeong Han Kim, Byoung Yull Yang
  • Patent number: 7594343
    Abstract: A method of drying clothes in a clothes dryer comprising a clothes chamber for receiving clothes, an air supply system for directing air through the clothes chamber, and a heater for heating the air supplied by the air supply system. The method comprises cycling the heater between an ON state by energizing the heater until a heater trip condition is met and an OFF state by deenergizing the heater until a heater reset condition is met, determining a heater off time by determining the time between the heater trip condition and the heater reset condition, and determining a drying time based on the heater off time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher John Woerdehoff, Andrew Charles Reck, David John Kmet, James Frederick Swanson
  • Publication number: 20090211108
    Abstract: A method for drying sensitive articles, essentially textiles made of wool, which are to be dried in the washing drum of a clothes dryer using a computer program. According to known methods for protecting sensitive articles to be dried during a drying program, the articles to be dried are introduced into a protective device which, filled with the articles to be dried, is then inserted into the washing drum before the start of the drying program. In order to prevent damage to the sensitive articles to be dried whenever the protective device is not used, a warning signal is generated prior to the start of the drying program when the protective device containing the sensitive articles to be dried is not properly fixed to the clothes dryer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2006
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerate GmbH Carl-Wery-Str. 34
    Inventors: Harald Moschütz, Ulrich Nehring
  • Publication number: 20090211109
    Abstract: A dryer according to the present invention includes a dry drum for loading the laundry; a driving motor driving the dry drum; and a steam generator installed at a side of the exterior of the dry drum and generating steam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Soung-Bong Choi, Hyeok Deok Kim, Deug Hee Lee, Seong Hae Jeong, Hung Myoung Cho
  • Publication number: 20090172969
    Abstract: A drying apparatus and a controlling method thereof are provided. During an initial phase of drying operation according to a selected drying cycle, a point of terminating the drying operation is calculated based on a moisture level sensed by a moisture sensor and a moisture output quantity stored in the storage. Drying is performed up to the calculated point of drying operation termination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventor: Sang Doo Kim
  • Publication number: 20090064531
    Abstract: A cloth treating apparatus and a method of controlling the same are disclosed. A cloth treating apparatus includes a cabinet comprising an accommodating space which accommodates laundry, a air supplying device which supplies hot air to the accommodating space, a control unit that determines dryness of the laundry based on at least two temperatures of the cabinet to control the air supplying device. A method of controlling a cloth treating apparatus includes supplying hot air to an accommodating space of the cloth treating apparatus, measuring temperatures of at least two portions of the cloth treating apparatus, and determining dryness based on the measured at least two temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jung Wook Moon, Dae Yun Park, Sog Kie Hong, Jong Seok Kim, Seung Gyu Ryu, Hye Yong Park, Chang Gyu Choi, Dong Won Kim
  • Publication number: 20090049708
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a control method of a dryer. More specifically, the present invention relates to control method of a dryer that includes performing drying of laundry; determining whether drying laundry for ironing out of total laundry is completed; and noticing a user that drying the laundry for ironing is completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventor: Jun Seok Lee
  • Publication number: 20090025250
    Abstract: A method for controlling an automatic dryer is disclosed, which can determine a dryness level based on information relating the laundry by an initial average value of a sensing means, to thereby achieve stability and reliability in a drying process, the method comprising sensing whether the amount of laundry is small or large by using an average output value in a preset time period of an initial drying stage; detecting a saturation voltage generating point of the sensor; and performing a drying cycle based on each dryness level by using information for the amount of laundry and the saturation voltage generating point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Ja ln Koo, Sun Cheol Bae, Jin Seok Hu, Yang Hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 7478486
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William Joseph Wunderlin, Michel Dion, Alexander Carswell Cambon, Mahmoud Fariz Ismail, Zubair Hameed, Cathy Diane Emery
  • Publication number: 20080313922
    Abstract: A controlling method of a clothes dryer for detecting an amount of laundry and a clothes dryer with the same are disclosed. A controlling method includes drying laundry by supplying hot air to a drum, determining an amount of laundry based on a drying time, and supplying fine droplets of water and/or steam to the drum according to the determined amount of laundry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Sang Hun Bae, Chang Woo Son, Ju Han Yoon
  • Publication number: 20080313921
    Abstract: A clogging detecting method for a dryer, which can accurately determine a clogging degree of an air passage, even when there is an operation deviation of a temperature control member, is disclosed. The clogging detecting method includes determining operating characteristics of a temperature control member turning on/off in accordance with a temperature of an air passage, determining a clogging degree of the air passage in accordance with a clogging reference corresponding to the determined operating characteristics, and displaying the determined clogging degree of the air passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Chang Hun OH, Seon Il Heo, Yang Hwan Kim, Yeon Sik Choi, Seog Ho Ko, Ju Han Yoon
  • Patent number: 7448145
    Abstract: A dryer and a dryer control method using a sensing unit and a timer to vary drying operations depending on the state of drying laundry are disclosed. The method for controlling an automatic dryer having a drying part including a heater, a fan, and a drum includes the steps of operating the drying part while monitoring an internal temperature and an internal humidity of the drum, continuously operating the heater, the fan, and the drum until the internal temperature reaches a predetermined temperature, and operating the fan intermittently when the internal temperature reaches the predetermined temperature. The method further includes operating the heater intermittently when the internal humidity reaches a predetermined humidity, discontinuing heater operation upon lapse of a first predetermined time, discontinuing fan operation upon lapse of a second predetermined time, and discontinuing drum operation upon lapse of a third predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Sang Doo Kim
  • Patent number: 7425688
    Abstract: A heating assembly for heating a hot air stream flowing in a flow passage of a tumble dryer. The heating assembly is configured for installation in the flow passage and comprises at least one heating element and at least one temperature sensor. The heating element is arranged such that the hot air stream can flow around it in a passing direction (D). The at least one temperature sensor can detect the temperature of the hot air stream and is arranged such that it projects into a core area of the hot air stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: DBK David + Baader GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Loesch, Ralf Frohn, Jerome Grunewald, Jens Koehne
  • Patent number: 7412782
    Abstract: A process for the continuous drying of water-surrounded granulate transported by a screen-type belt conveyor. In a first conveying region in the form of a chute, water is withdrawn under gravity from the plastic granulate at a temperature of > than 100° C., wherein, in a following second region on a belt conveyor, any remaining water is substantially removed by air extraction through the belt conveyor, the air extraction taking place at an air speed of > than 20 m per second and with a dwell time in the second region of < than 2 seconds, there being a following third region, as an evaporation zone, with a dwell time of more than two seconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Rieter Automatik GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Dahlheimer
  • Publication number: 20080184587
    Abstract: A drier for drying wet material includes a drying chamber with a plurality of heating region regions and a plurality of drying regions, alternatively located along the path of the material through the drier. Each of the heating regions is heated with heating fluid by a heating recirculation system wherein the heating fluid overall flows generally concurrently with the material in the chamber, but wherein the heating fluid can flow in various ways within each heating region. A fluid circulation system flows drying fluid through each of the drying regions generally in countercurrent flow relative to the flow of material through the drier, although the drying fluid can flow in various ways within each drying region. The drying fluid exiting the drier is used to preheat the heating fluid exiting the drier prior to the heating fluid reentering the drier. Makeup heat is supplied to the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventor: Steve D. Shivvers
  • Patent number: 7353624
    Abstract: A clothing drying machine, which terminates drying operation when a dryness level of the drying machine reaches a target level desired by a user, and a method for sensing the dryness level using the same. The method includes counting the frequency of a case, in which voltage sensed by an electrode sensor, in which the voltage varies according to moisture content of clothing, is more than a predetermined reference voltage; and terminating drying operation when the frequency counted by the counting unit for a predetermined reference time is in the range of one of predetermined dryness levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young Suk Chung, Su Young Byun
  • Publication number: 20080072448
    Abstract: A dryer monitor detects when textiles in a dryer are dry, detects when textiles in a dryer are overdry, and/or may count dryer cycles. The dryer monitor includes a humidity sensor, a temperature sensor, a controller and various status indicators. The humidity and temperature sensors may be located outside the drying compartment of the dryer. In the case of a clothes dryer, the humidity and temperature sensors may be located outside the drum of the dryer and may be located, for example, in the exhaust compartment of the dryer. The dryer monitor determines dryness of items in the dryer, and may also determine whether the items are overdry, based on humidity information received from the humidity sensor. The dryer monitor counts dryer cycles based on temperature information received from the temperature sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Applicant: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Stephan M. Hubig, Stephen X. Skaff, Monica P. Tindel-Koukal, Mihnea A. Popa, Russell D. Maziarka
  • Patent number: 7343700
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for drying particulate material in which the drying and discharge of the particulate material may be superimposed in such a way as to permit continuous drying of particulate material even when the supply is not continuous. The quantity of heat supplied to the particulate material is controlled as a function of signals (i; hi) from temperature sensors mounted in the particulate material, which signals represent temperatures detected locally, and also as a function of a preselectable residence time (Tv) of the particulate material at a temperature within a preselectable target temperature range (min, max) and a preselectable throughput of dried particulate material such that the particulate material discharged has a temperature within the target temperature range (min, max) at least during the residence time (Tv).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Mann & Hummel ProTec GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Zlotos
  • Patent number: 7325331
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for drying a fibre-based pulp web (2), and to a drying box (1) used in the method. According to the invention, the drying box (1) contains drying zones (9a-9e), to each one of which hot drying air can be blown independently so that the web can be dried in the various zones at different temperatures. The temperature of the first zone (9a) can thus be lower than that of one or more subsequent zones (9b-9e) to prevent the water in the incoming wet web from boiling. The last zone in the drying box (1) can be a separate cooling zone (11), wherein the web is cooled by indoor air from outside the box. The temperatures can be adjusted by adjusting, with the aid of valves (8), the pressure of the steam, which heats the drying air that is fed into the various zones (9a-9e), on the basis of the temperatures measured by the sensors (23) for the various zones and of the basis weight and moisture measurements carried out on the web (2) that goes into the box (1) and comes out of the box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventor: Matti Nestori Luukkanen
  • Publication number: 20070214678
    Abstract: Disclosed in a control method of a clothes dryer. The drying method of a clothes dryer, includes: detecting a temperature of the air exhausted from a drum; determining a change in water content of a drying material on the basis of the detected temperature; and controlling a drying operation according to the water content change of the drying material. Accordingly, the air temperature in an exhaust port of a drum is measured, and a water content or a temperature of a drying material can be determined on the basis of data about a gradient of the temperature change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Inventors: Chang-Woo Son, Hyun-Uk Lee, Seung-Phyo Ahn, Dong-Joo Han, Byeong-Jo Ryoo, Jung-Wook Moon
  • Patent number: 7243857
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is directed toward a networked grain aeration control system. For example, the system can provide centralized monitoring of the aeration of a number of grain storage facilities, thereby improving the management of stored grain. The networked grain aeration control system can allow the custodian of the system to offer an aeration service. Farmers, or other individuals, cooperatives, or companies can purchase the aeration service at a cost proportionate to the amount of stored grain to be aerated and the duration of storage. In this manner, the purchaser of the aeration service can avoid relatively high fixed costs that can be associated with various aeration hardware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Cerys Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Kallestad
  • Patent number: 7194822
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for controllably drying moisture-containing work pieces. The system comprises a drying compartment defining an internal workspace for housing and drying the moisture-containing work pieces by introducing heat into the internal workspace and heating the moisture-containing work pieces located in the internal workspace by removing heated moisture from the work pieces and absorbing the heated moisture into the air in the workspace to produce heated humidified air. A multi-directional air flow heat exchanger is employed for receiving heated humidified air and atmospheric air and for recycling waste heat from exhaust air from the drying compartment, and for heating the atmospheric air in the heat exchanger using recovered heat extracted from the heated humidified air to a temperature higher than ambient temperature thereby reducing energy costs and drying time and preventing the loss of circulation air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: American Wood Dryers, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary L. Kolari
  • Patent number: 7127832
    Abstract: Disclosed are a control method of a clothes drier capable of preventing a laundry damage due to an over-drying and capable of decreasing a power dissipation, and an apparatus thereof. The control method of a clothes drier comprises the steps of: dividing a section that clothes dryness degree values varied as the clothes are dried are generated into a plurality of dryness degree detection sections; detecting the dryness degree values in the plurality of dryness degree detection sections according to a preset sampling rate or the number of samples; detecting a representative value of the detected dryness degree values; and drying the clothes with a preset heating value corresponding to the detected dryness degree representative value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dae-Yun Park, Kyung-Seop Hong
  • Patent number: 7082695
    Abstract: A power-saving drying machine control method used in a drying machine is disclosed to include the steps of (a) enabling the temperature (or relative humidity) control unit of a central control unit to start working and to detect the temperature (or relative humidity) at the exhaust port of the drying machine through a temperature (or relative humidity) sensor once per a predetermined time unit when the temperature (or relative humidity) sensor detected a predetermined temperature (or relative humidity) value, and (b) driving the central control unit to shut off the drying machine when at least two temperature (or relative humidity) differences of at least three proceeding temperature (or relative humidity) values obtained from the exhaust port of the drying machine through the temperature (or relative humidity) sensor are within the precision of the temperature (or relative humidity) sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Inventors: King-Leung Wong, Huann-Ming Chou, Tsung-Lieh Hsien, Jenn-Fa Lee
  • Patent number: 7013578
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William Joseph Wunderlin, Michel Dion, Alexander Carswell Cambon, Mahmoud Fariz Ismail, Zubair Hameed, Cathy Diane Emery
  • Patent number: 7004401
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is directed toward a networked grain aeration control system. For example, the system can provide centralized monitoring of the aeration of a number of grain storage facilities, thereby improving the management of stored grain. The networked grain aeration control system can allow the custodian of the system to offer an aeration service. Farmers, or other individuals, cooperatives, or companies can purchase the aeration service at a cost proportionate to the amount of stored grain to be aerated and the duration of storage. In this manner, the purchaser of the aeration service can avoid relatively high fixed costs that can be associated with various aeration hardware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Cerys Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Kallestad
  • Patent number: 6987395
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a dryness measuring device, and more particularly the dryness measuring device for sensing a dryness status of laundry in drying. The present invention is to provide an electrode sensor for sensing the dryness status of the laundry and measuring a current dryness status by a variance of a voltage which is charged in capacitor based on a variance of resistance of the electrode sensor. And, the present invention minimizes outside effect by discharging of the charged voltage of the capacitor by designated periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jae Suk Yang, Sang Doo Kim, Seong Hae Jeong
  • Patent number: 6951065
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for drying granulate material in a hopper by controlling the amount of gas which flows through the hopper to heat and to dry the granulate. The control allows to use a minimum amount of gas for heating the granulate to the drying temperature and to dry it with an optimal low energy consumption. This effect is reached by controlling the amount of gas flowing through the drying hopper as a function of the temperature difference between the temperature of the heating gas leaving the drying hopper and the granulate to be heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Inventor: Roderich W. Graeff
  • Patent number: 6938359
    Abstract: A web-formed material (1), preferably a pulp web (1), is passed through a drying plant, comprising blow boxes arranged in a plurality of drying decks, floating above lower blow boxes, which at their upper sides blow out hot process air against the web-formed material (1). Water, in the form of steam, escaping from the web-formed material (1) is discharged by the process air, at least part of which is recirculated (43) whereas the non-recirculated process air is discharged as exhaust air (41) and is replaced by a corresponding portion of supply air (42) with a low water content. The temperature of the process air is controlled (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Andritz Technology and Asset Management GmbH
    Inventors: Jonas Birgersson, Per Holmberg
  • Patent number: 6931760
    Abstract: A dryer control method provides for selection among a plurality of dryness levels so that the user may select a desired degree of dryness for any given type of laundry. The method includes steps of selecting one among a plurality of dryness levels; driving a drying unit holding laundry; sensing a value indicative of a water content of the laundry; comparing the sensed value with first and second predetermined values; measuring a time required for the sensed value to reach the second predetermined value from the first predetermined value; computing a drying time based on the measured time; and stopping the driving step upon expiration of the computed drying time, wherein the first and second predetermined values determine a reference value corresponding to the selected dryness level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Jae Suk Yang
  • Patent number: 6931759
    Abstract: An apparatus for sensing a dryness degree in an exhaust type clothes dryer and a control method using the same, includes an electrode sensor for sensing a clothes drying state based on the humidity of the clothes in the drum, and a thermistor for sensing the temperature of the air discharged after drying the clothes. By comparing the clothes drying state and discharged air temperature, the operation of the dryer is controlled, so that the drying of clothes can be accurately performed, thus to improve efficiency and performance of an exhaust type clothes dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hae-Deog Jeong, Soon-Jo Lee
  • Patent number: 6928749
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Sang Ho Park
  • Patent number: 6845290
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Inventors: William Joseph Wunderlin, Michel Dion, Alexander Carswell Cambon, Mahmoud Fariz Ismail, Zubair Hameed, Cathy Diane Emery
  • Patent number: 6834443
    Abstract: A grain dryer control system uses the grain dryer discharge temperature to account for moisture reduction in the grain as it cools after discharge from the dryer. The control system includes moisture and temperature sensors and a means to control the discharge of grain from the grain dryer. Given a grain discharge temperature, a control temperature and a moisture reduction factor as a function of temperature, the control system calculates an expected moisture reduction in the grain as the grain cools. Grain is discharged from the dryer when the target moisture content after cooling added to the expected moisture reduction in the grain as the grain cools meets the measured grain moisture content in the dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: CTB IP, Inc.
    Inventor: Brent J. Bloemendaal
  • Patent number: 6807750
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the removal of moisture from seed cotton in a cotton gin. The moisture level and rate of seed cotton entering a seed cotton dryer stage of a cotton gin are measured, and, based on those measurements and the desired moisture level of the seed cotton, the seed cotton dryer stage of the cotton gin is controlled to remove a precise amount of moisture from the seed cotton.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Cotton Moisture, LLC
    Inventors: Gene C. Lewis, Steven E. Lewis, Jerry B. Wright, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6751888
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: William Henry Lueckenbach
  • Patent number: 6729043
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus is proposed for drying stacked wood with the help of a drying gas guided in a circulatory flow. The stacks of wood (H1, H2) are charged zone by zone depending on the average moisture of the wood (u) in the respective zone with partial streams of the drying gas which differ with respect to their drying power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Inventor: Kurt Mühlböck
  • Patent number: 6725570
    Abstract: A clothes dryer having a fire protection system. The clothes dryer chamber has an inlet which receives drying air and an exhaust for removing moisture laden air. The temperature within the drying chamber is monitored, and a determination is made from the dryer electronic controller whether or not a fire exists in the tumbler. The fire detection conditions are based on determining whether a certain temperature rise exists within the tumbler when the drying air ceases. The fire suppression system when activated will inject a fire suppressing substance into the tumbler for suppressing the fire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: American Dryer Corporation
    Inventors: Michael W. Confoey, Dennis Slutsky
  • Patent number: 6655043
    Abstract: A moisture indicator in an air flow drying process where hot gas is circulated over and around a granular material having an undesirable amount of moisture includes a detector located in the path of the exhaust gas to determine exhaust flow temperature, a valve control device associated with the temperature detector to control the percentage of hydrocarbon gas in the hot gas intake and an indicator connected to the valve control device. A display is associated with the indicator to display the percentage of hydrocarbon gas in the gas intake which indicates the amount of moisture in the granular material. The percentage of hydrocarbon gas needed in the intake is inversely proportional to the amount of moisture in the granular material. The percentage signals the loader operator whether the granular material loaded has an acceptable amount of moisture for successful operation of the drying process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: APAC Inc.
    Inventor: Ernest Roy Kingery
  • Patent number: 6519871
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating an automatic cycle of a clothes dryer wherein after initiation of an automatic cycle, a CPU displays the expected time remaining during the current cycle. At various times during the cycle, the expected time remaining is updated by comparing the time required to reach certain moisture levels of the articles contained therein to reference times. The comparison also results in the expected times being updated for future uses of the clothes dryer. Finally, the invention includes a system for updating the amount of time required to reach a desired final temperature during a cooldown sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas W. Gardner, Michael D. Lafrenz, Kim L. Wright
  • Patent number: 6519870
    Abstract: A method for heating bulk materials, especially granular plastic material, in which the bulk material is fed to a vessel and exits the vessel based on the consumption. A heat-transfer gas flow is simultaneously fed to the vessel and conducted either cocurrently with or countercurrently to the flow of granular material. The gas inlet temperature or quantity of gas are thereby varied in such a way that the temperature of the granular material at the outlet corresponds to a target temperature value required for the granular material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Mann & Hummell ProTec GmbH
    Inventors: Achim Becker, Michael Zlotos
  • Patent number: 6493963
    Abstract: A method of programming and controlling an automatic cycle of a clothes dryer provides that, after positioning of a selection dial, a motor associated with the selection dial is rapidly moved to a predetermined location at a constant speed, while the time to do so is measured. With the rotational velocity being known, the exact, initially setting position of the dial is determined in advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventor: Brent A. England
  • Publication number: 20020184789
    Abstract: A method of operating an automatic cycle of a clothes dryer is disclosed wherein, after initiation of an automatic cycle, a CPU displays the expected time remaining during the current cycle. At various times during the cycle, the expected time remaining is updated by comparing the time required to reach certain moisture levels of the articles contained therein to reference times. The comparison also results in the expected times being updated for future uses of the clothes dryer. Finally, the invention includes a system for updating the amount of time required to reach a desired final temperature during a cooldown sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Applicant: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas W. Gardner, Michael D. Lafrenz, Kim L. Wright
  • Patent number: 6449875
    Abstract: A method for heating bulk materials, especially granular plastic material, in which the bulk material is fed to a vessel and exits the vessel based on the consumption. A heat-transfer gas flow is simultaneously fed to the vessel and conducted either cocurrently with or countercurrently to the flow of granular material. The gas inlet temperature or quantity of gas are thereby varied in such a way that the temperature of the granular material at the outlet corresponds to a target temperature value required for the granular material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Mann & Hummel Protec GmbH
    Inventors: Achim Becker, Michael Zlotos