Abstract: A humidity-modulated dual-setpoint temperature controller is disclosed in which the two setpoints of the temperature controller are adjusted as a function of measured humidity. Parameters other than humidity could also be used to adjust the dual setpoints of the temperature controller. The controller is particularly useful in controlling the heater element of a clothes dryer in order to improve the energy efficiency of the dryer.

Abstract: The electrical conductivity of laundry in a laundry drum is measured and the moisture content is determined from the measured quantity. A polarization voltage, which corrupts the measurement result, is formed at the electrodes. In order to compensate for this disturbing influence, as well as for other material and aging effects, the conductivity measurement is briefly interrupted and the polarization voltage which is present across the electrodes and has formed during the conductivity measurement is measured. The measured error voltage is used to compensate the laundry voltage measured during the previous conductivity measurement. This improves the determination of the conductivity, and thus of the moisture content, considerably. The method is particularly suitable for a microcontroller.

Abstract: A grain moisture regulating system includes a grain bin with a perforated grain supporting floor and a fan for blowing outside ambient air into the grain bin through the grain mass set thereupon, and through an air outlet at the top of the grain bin. A humidistat fan control system measures ambient moisture in the air outside the grain bin and compares it to ambient moisture in the air inside the grain bin for controlling the fan. A fan operation control system includes a plurality of moisture content sensors which measure ambient moisture in the air outside the grain bin and ambient moisture in the air above the grain mass in the grain bin to produce a signal for the humidistat fan control system.

Abstract: A dryer system for drying a coating applied to a substrate includes a thermally conductive roll having a length and a peripheral surface for supporting the substrate and a plurality of energy emitters disposed within the conductive roll along the length of the conductive roll. The plurality of energy emitters are controlled to selectively emit energy along the length of the conductive roll. The conductive roll is at least partially surrounded by at least one convection unit. The convection unit includes a blower assembly, a heater assembly and a vacuum passageway. The blower assembly includes an inlet and directs a current of air towards the substrate. The heater assembly heats the air being directed towards the substrate. The vacuum passageway extends between the substrate and the inlet of the blower assembly for returning the heated air to the blower assembly once the air has impinged upon the substrate.

Abstract: An exhaust vent cover assembly and method of manufacture. The vent cover assembly includes a vent cover and a pair of heat stacked moisture sensor electrodes. The vent cover includes a perforated first portion defining a first plane and a solid second portion defining a second plane. The second plane is at an angle to the first plane. The vent cover is formed from a non-conductive material, and the electrodes are embedded in the second portion of the cover. The electrodes include a plurality of retainers to prevent removal from the cover assembly.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a system and method for predicting the dryness of clothing articles in a clothes dryer 10. In one embodiment of this invention, the clothes dryer 10 uses a temperature sensor 52, a phase angle sensor 54, and a humidity sensor 56 to generate signal representations of the temperature of the clothing articles, the motor phase angle, and the humidity of the heated air in the duct, respectively. A controller 58 receives the signal representations and determines a feature vector. A neural network 168 uses the feature vector to predict a percentage of moisture content and a degree of dryness of the clothing articles in the clothes dryer 10. In another embodiment of this invention, the clothes dryer uses a combination of sensors to predicts a percentage of moisture content and a degree of dryness of the clothing articles.

Abstract: A footwear dryer support rod that includes an interconnectable rod assembly including a fixed length rod section, a circuit housing rod section, and a spring loaded telescoping rod section; an alarm circuit housed within the circuit housing rod section including a detecting circuit and an alarm circuit, the alarm circuit including an electrically driven audible output device; two disk shaped, resilient protector pads, one resilient protector pad being securable to the end of the fixed length rod section and one resilient protector pad being securable to the end of the spring loaded telescoping rod section; a first moisture probe pair extending outwardly from the end of the fixed length rod section and positioned through one of the resilient protector pads; and a second moisture probe pair extending outwardly from the end of the telescoping rod section and positioned through a one of the resilient protector pads.

Abstract: Method and equipment for the manufacture of corrugated paper products includes separate heaters for preparing liner and medium components. Data regarding these components is collected and an optimum conditioning for the components is determined. High voltage sensors, associated electronic circuitry and computer controls are used to determine surface moisture values.

Abstract: A dryness control circuit for a household clothes dryer including a power supply circuit and a moisture sensing circuit. The power supply circuit converts high voltage AC power into low voltage, DC power. The low voltage, DC power is supplied to the moisture sensing circuit. The moisture sensing circuit includes a moisture sensor having a pair of spaced-apart electrodes, a time delay circuit, an electrostatic discharge attenuation circuit, and a motor controller circuit. The motor controller circuit includes a control hysteresis or dead-band in which operation of a timer motor is unaffected. The time delay circuit includes an RC network which slowly charges and discharges to prevent erroneous dryness or moisture readings, which are sensed by the moisture sensor, from causing the motor controller circuit to improperly actuate or deactuate the timer motor. The electrostatic discharge attenuation circuit negates the deleterious effects of static build up.

Abstract: Microwave clothes dryer with a moisture sensor having an array of short coaxial cables extending through an electrically conductive base plate which is grounded to the shielding structure of the dryer. The ends of the cables are flush with one side of the plate and are exposed for contact with clothes in the dryer chamber. Electrical resistance is monitored between the inner conductors and the plate to determine the dryness of clothes, and the dryer is shut down when the resistance reaches a predetermined level.

Abstract: The position of the exhaust air flap of a through-flow dryer, for example, a screen drum dryer, is adjusted to determine the moisture content of the exhaust air. This is advantageously accomplished as a function of the desired drying temperature of the goods or their moisture content when the good leaves the dryer. Provision is made according to the invention to measure the temperature of the air after passing though the web, at least in the vicinity of the outlet of the dryer, to relate it to the temperature of the ambient air and thus to determine the temperature of the goods and hence their moisture content, since in the residual drying range, the moisture content of the goods is a function of the temperature of the goods. The exhaust air moisture content can then be regulated with this measured value.

Abstract: An adiabatic saturator receives a sample of exhaust air exiting a yankee dryer hood to determine the humidity of the exhaust air. The humidity is determined by temperature readings of the exhaust air, saturated air exiting the interior of a saturator cell, and water supplied to the saturator cell interior. An air distributor in the saturator cell interior promotes saturation of the exhaust air and a backflush mechanism backflushes the saturator cell interior to keep the water in the cell interior clean.

Abstract: An industrial mobile process monitoring system is described which provides a way by which a measurable atmospheric condition, such as temperature, can be measured in real time at a plurality of different locations in a structure such as a kiln, and the information transmitted to a base station computer via magnetic energy linking primary and secondary windings of an air-core transformer.

Abstract: A dryness sensing printed circuit board carried inside a cam-operated timer housing is accomplished by bonding a printed circuit board inside a timer housing cover plate. Electrical connections between the printed circuit board and timer components are provided by conductive pads on the printed circuit board that contact an electrical connecting means attached to timer components when the timer housing coverplate is installed on the timer housing.