Dryer control

Claim 2

The combination with a dryer having a rotatable drum for containing material to be dried and means for rotating said drum to tumble said material, electrodes supported in said drum for engagement with said material and with said material completing an electrical circuit across said electrodes, means for applying direct current to said electrodes, a capacitance connected in circuit with said electrodes and with said material completing a circuit across said electrodes for discharge of said capacitor, means for gradually charging said capacitance at a rate less than its rate of discharge through said electrodes when said material has a high moisture content and which is greater than the rate of discharge through said electrodes when said material has a low moisture content, control means operative when actuated to effect a dryer control function, and means responsive to the charge on said capacitance to actuate said control means when the charge on said capacitance reaches a predetermined value corresponding to a predetermined moisture content.

Claim 3

A dryer control circuit for use in a dryer having a drum for containing material to be dried, said circuit comprising, means for rotating said drum to tumble said material, electrode means supported in said drum for engagement with said material, means for applying direct current to said electrode means with the potential across said electrode means being determined by the amount of current leakage through said material, a capacitance connected in circuit with said electrode means with the charge thereon corresponding to the potential of said electrode means, and control means connected with and responsive to the charge on said capacitance, said control means being operated when the charge on said capacitance corresponds to a predetermined moisture content of said material to effect a dryer control function.

Claim 4

A dryer control circuit for use in a dryer having a drum for containing material to be dried, said circuit comprising, means for rotating said drum to tumble said material, electrode means supported in said drum for engagement with said material, means for applying direct current to said electrode means with the potential across said electrode means being determined by the amount of current leakage through said material, a capacitance connected in circuit with said electrode means with the charge thereon corresponding to the potential of said electrode means, and control means connected with and responsive to the charge on said capacitance, said control means being operated when the charge on said capacitance corresponds to a predetermined moisture content of said material to effect a dryer control function.

Claim 5

In a clothes drier control system including electrically energized means for altering the drying cycle, fabrics tumbled at random in said drier and a bistable electronic means for controlling said electrically energized means, the combination of a trigger means for said bistable electronic means including a circuit having a DC voltage source and a capacitor interconnected with said bistable electronic means and said DC voltage source, said capacitor being charged via a first circuit portion and discharged via a second circuit portion with one of said circuit portions interconnected with electrode means presenting at random a resistance which is a functiOn of the moisture content of said fabrics in said clothes drier whereby said capacitor produces an output to control said bistable electronic means in accordance with the moisture content of said fabrics in said clothes drier.

Claim 6

In a clothes drier control system including electrically energized means for altering the drying cycle, fabrics tumbled at random in said drier and a bistable electronic means for controlling said electrically energized means, the combination of a trigger means for said bistable electronic means including a circuit having a DC voltage source and a capacitor interconnected with said bistable electronic means and said DC voltage source, said capacitor being charged via a first circuit portion and discharged via a second circuit portion with one of said circuit portions interconnected with electrode means presenting at random a resistance which is a functiOn of the moisture content of said fabrics in said clothes drier whereby said capacitor produces an output to control said bistable electronic means in accordance with the moisture content of said fabrics in said clothes drier.

Claim 7

In the system of claim 3 the combination with said bistable electronic means of timing means operative to time the interval between initiation of the drying cycle and the triggering of the bistable electronic means by the trigger means and to continue operation of the electrically energized means for a predetermined percentage of said interval after the bistable electronic means is triggered to continue the drying operation past the point at which the moisture content of said fabrics has been reduced to a level low enough to trigger the bistable electronic means.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 3 in which the bistable electronic means controls the electrically energized means through timing means operative in response to triggering of the bistable electronic means by the trigger means to continue operation of the electrically energized means for a predetermined interval measured from such triggering.

Claim 9

The combination with a clothes dryer including a drum and motor therefor for tumbling fabrics at random and a heater, of a control system of regulating operation of the dryer, comprising, electronic means for controlling said heater, a circuit having a DC voltage source, a capacitor interconnected with said electronic means and said DC voltage source, said capacitor being charged via a first circuit portion and discharged via a second circuit portion with one of said circuit portions interconnected with electrode means positioned in the drum and presenting at random a resistance which is a function of the moisture content of said fabrics in said drum whereby the capacitor produces an output to trigger said electronic means in accordance with the moisture content of said fabrics in said drum and thereby terminate heater operation in accordance with such moisture content.

Claim 10

The combination with a clothes dryer including a drum and motor therefor for tumbling fabrics at random and a heater, of a control system of regulating operation of the dryer, comprising, electronic means for controlling said heater, a circuit having a DC voltage source, a capacitor interconnected with said electronic means and said DC voltage source, said capacitor being charged via a first circuit portion and discharged via a second circuit portion with one of said circuit portions interconnected with electrode means positioned in the drum and presenting at random a resistance which is a function of the moisture content of said fabrics in said drum whereby the capacitor produces an output to trigger said electronic means in accordance with the moisture content of said fabrics in said drum and thereby terminate heater operation in accordance with such moisture content.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 6 including timing means operatively interposed between the electronic means and the heater, said timing means being operative to time the interval between initiation of a drying cycle and triggering of the electronic means and to thereafter continue operation of the heater and motor for a given percentage of said interval.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 6 including timing means operatively interposed between the electronic means and the heater, said timing means being placed in operation by the electronic means when the electronic means is triggered and being operative to continue operation of the heater and motor for a predetermined interval following such triggering.

Claim 13

In a clothes drier control system including electrically energized means for altering the drying cycle, fabrics tumbled at random in said drier and electronic means for controlling said electrically energized means, the combination of a trigger means for said electronic means including a circuit having a DC voltage source and a capacitor interconnected with said electronic means and said DC voltage source, said capacitor being charged via a first circuit portion and discharged via a second circuit portion with one of said circuit portions interconnected with electrode means presenting at random a resistance which is a function of the moisture content of said fabrics whereby said capacitor produces an output to control said electronic means in accordance with the moisture content of said fabrics in said clothes drier.

Claim 14

In a clothes drier control system including electrically energized means for altering the drying cycle, fabrics tumbled at random in said drier and electronic means for controlling said electrically energized means, the combination of a trigger means for said electronic means including a circuit having a DC voltage source and a capacitor interconnected with said electronic means and said DC voltage source, said capacitor being charged via a first circuit portion and discharged via a second circuit portion with one of said circuit portions interconnected with electrode means presenting at random a resistance which is a function of the moisture content of said fabrics whereby said capacitor produces an output to control said electronic means in accordance with the moisture content of said fabrics in said clothes drier.

Claim 15

A moisture sensing control for use with apparatus for drying material and operative to control said apparatus in accordance with the moisture content of said material, said moisture sensing control comprising, sensing means arranged for engagement with the material being dried to complete a sensing circuit and the potential of said sensing means being determined by current flow through said material, means connected in circuit with and operatIve to apply a DC voltage on said sensing means, a capacitance connected in circuit with said sensing means for accumulating a charge which increases as the moisture content of said material decreases, switch means connected in circuit with said capacitance and responsive to a predetermined charge on said capacitance to change the operational state of said switch means, and control means connected with said switch means and operated by said switch means when the operational state of said switch means is changed to effect a dryer control function.

Claim 16

A moisture sensing control for use with apparatus for drying material and operative to control said apparatus in accordance with the moisture content of said material, said moisture sensing control comprising, sensing means arranged for engagement with the material being dried to complete a sensing circuit and the potential of said sensing means being determined by current flow through said material, means connected in circuit with and operatIve to apply a DC voltage on said sensing means, a capacitance connected in circuit with said sensing means for accumulating a charge which increases as the moisture content of said material decreases, switch means connected in circuit with said capacitance and responsive to a predetermined charge on said capacitance to change the operational state of said switch means, and control means connected with said switch means and operated by said switch means when the operational state of said switch means is changed to effect a dryer control function.

Claim 17

In a drying machine operable through a cycle of operation, a chamber for containing articles, means for drying said articles in said chamber during at least a portion of said cycle of operation, electrodes for contacting and completing an electrical circuit through said articles, said electrodes spaced apart to receive therebetween the articles being dried so that the electrical resistance between said electrodes varies with the electrical resistance condition of the articles therebetween, means for applying electrical voltage to said electrodes, means for instituting said cycle of operation, means in association with said chamber for moving said articles in random contact with said electrodes, means for integrating the variations in applied voltage across the electrodes resulting from variations in resistance conditions of the articles therebetween to produce a signal, means responsive to a signal of given magnitude to initiate termination of said cycle of operation.

Claim 18

In a drying machine operable through a cycle of operation, a chamber for containing articles, means for drying said articles in said chamber during at least a portion of said cycle of operation, electrodes for contacting and completing an electrical circuit through said articles, said electrodes spaced apart to receive therebetween the articles being dried so that the electrical resistance between said electrodes varies with the electrical resistance condition of the articles therebetween, means for applying electrical voltage to said electrodes, means for instituting said cycle of operation, means in association with said chamber for moving said articles in random contact with said electrodes, means for integrating the variations in applied voltage across the electrodes resulting from variations in resistance conditions of the articles therebetween to produce a signal, means responsive to a signal of given magnitude to initiate termination of said cycle of operation.

Claim 19

A dryer control circuit in combination with a dryer having a drum for containing material to be dried, said circuit comprising, means for rotating said drum to tumble said material, electrode means supported in said drum for engagement with said material, means for applying a voltage to said electrode means with the potential across the electrode means being determined by the amount of leakage through said material, a capacitance connected in circuit with said electrode means with the charge thereon corresponding to the potential of said electrode means, and control means connected with and responsive to the charge on said capacitance, said control means being operated to effect a dryer control function when the charge on said capacitance corresponds to a predetermined moisture content of said material.

Claim 20

A dryer control circuit in combination with a dryer having a drum for containing material to be dried, said circuit comprising, means for rotating said drum to tumble said material, electrode means supported in said drum for engagement with said material, means for applying a voltage to said electrode means with the potential across the electrode means being determined by the amount of leakage through said material, a capacitance connected in circuit with said electrode means with the charge thereon corresponding to the potential of said electrode means, and control means connected with and responsive to the charge on said capacitance, said control means being operated to effect a dryer control function when the charge on said capacitance corresponds to a predetermined moisture content of said material.

Claim 21

A dryer control circuit in combination with a dryer having a drum for containing material to be dried, said circuit comprising, means for rotating said drum to tumble said material, electrode means supported in said drum for engagement with said material, means for applying a voltage to said electrode means with the potential across the electrode means being determined by the amount of leakage through said material, means for integrating the potential across the electrode means as the potential varies with variation in the leakage through said material to produce a signal, and means responsive to a signal of given magnitude to initiate termination of the drying operation.

Claim 22

A dryer control circuit in combination with a dryer having a drum for containing material to be dried, said circuit comprising, means for rotating said drum to tumble said material, electrode means supported in said drum for engagement with said material, means for applying a voltage to said electrode means with the potential across the electrode means being determined by the amount of leakage through said material, means for integrating the potential across the electrode means as the potential varies with variation in the leakage through said material to produce a signal, and means responsive to a signal of given magnitude to initiate termination of the drying operation.

Claim 23

Apparatus according to claim 13 in which the means for initiating termination of the drying operation includes, a timer for timing the termination period, said timer being adjustable to adjust said period and, hence, adjust the degree of dryness of said material at the conclusion of the drying operation.

Claim 24

In a drying apparatus operable through a cycle of operation, a drum for containing fabrics, means for rotating said drum to tumble said fabrics, means for drying said fabrics in said drum, means for instituting said cycle of operation of the apparatus, electrodes positioned within said drum for contacting and completing an electrical circuit through said tumbled fabrics, said electrodes spaced apart to receive therebetween the fabrics being dried so that the electrical resistance between said electrodes varies with the electrical resistAnce condition of the fabrics therebetween, means for applying electrical voltage to said electrodes, means including capacitance means for generating a control signal responsive to the electrical resistance condition of said fabrics contacting said electrodes maintained over a period of time of sufficient duration for random pieces of said fabrics to be tumbled into contact with said electrodes, and means responsive to said control signal for initiating termination of said cycle of operation.

Claim 25

In a drying apparatus operable through a cycle of operation, a drum for containing fabrics, means for rotating said drum to tumble said fabrics, means for drying said fabrics in said drum, means for instituting said cycle of operation of the apparatus, electrodes positioned within said drum for contacting and completing an electrical circuit through said tumbled fabrics, said electrodes spaced apart to receive therebetween the fabrics being dried so that the electrical resistance between said electrodes varies with the electrical resistAnce condition of the fabrics therebetween, means for applying electrical voltage to said electrodes, means including capacitance means for generating a control signal responsive to the electrical resistance condition of said fabrics contacting said electrodes maintained over a period of time of sufficient duration for random pieces of said fabrics to be tumbled into contact with said electrodes, and means responsive to said control signal for initiating termination of said cycle of operation.

Claim 26

In a drying machine, a chamber for articles to be dried, means for drying said articles in said chamber during at least a portion of said cycle of operation, electrodes for contacting and completing an electrical circuit through said articles, said electrodes spaces apart and adapted to receive therebetween the articles being dried so that the electrical resistance between said electrodes varies with the electrical resistance condition of said articles therebetween, means for supplying electrical voltage to said electrodes, moving means in association with said chamber for causing relative movements and random contact between said electrodes and said articles to obtain a representative sampling of the electrical condition of the articles, control means for initiating termination of said drying machine, means for accumulating energy, means connected to said electrodes for discharging said energy accumulating means at a rate corresponding to the electrical resistance across said electrodes, means for charging said energy accumulating means with energy at a predetermined rate which exceeds the discharge thereof when the articles contacting said electrodes are at least partly dried, and means responsive to a predetermined amount of energy accumulated by said energy accumulating means for controlling said drying machine.

Claim 27

In a drying machine, a chamber for articles to be dried, means for drying said articles in said chamber during at least a portion of said cycle of operation, electrodes for contacting and completing an electrical circuit through said articles, said electrodes spaces apart and adapted to receive therebetween the articles being dried so that the electrical resistance between said electrodes varies with the electrical resistance condition of said articles therebetween, means for supplying electrical voltage to said electrodes, moving means in association with said chamber for causing relative movements and random contact between said electrodes and said articles to obtain a representative sampling of the electrical condition of the articles, control means for initiating termination of said drying machine, means for accumulating energy, means connected to said electrodes for discharging said energy accumulating means at a rate corresponding to the electrical resistance across said electrodes, means for charging said energy accumulating means with energy at a predetermined rate which exceeds the discharge thereof when the articles contacting said electrodes are at least partly dried, and means responsive to a predetermined amount of energy accumulated by said energy accumulating means for controlling said drying machine.

Claim 28

In a clothes drier control system including electrical energized drying cycle altering means, fabrics tumbled at random in said drier and a bistable electronic means for controlling said altering means, the combination of a transducer means for producing random pulses of electric energy as a function of the moisture content of said fabrics in said clothes drier, and trigger means for said bistable electronic means interconnected with said transducer means and said bistable electronic means comprising a circuit having a DC voltage source and a capacitor electrically connected to said bistable electronic means, said capacitor being charged and discharged, respectively, at first and second relative rates of charge, one of said rates of charge being a direct function of the said moisture content of said fabrics, said circuit producing an output voltage representative of the difference in the said charging rates.

Claim 29

In a clothes drier control system including electrical energized drying cycle altering means, fabrics tumbled at random in said drier and a bistable electronic means for controlling said altering means, the combination of a transducer means for producing random pulses of electric energy as a function of the moisture content of said fabrics in said clothes drier, and trigger means for said bistable electronic means interconnected with said transducer means and said bistable electronic means comprising a circuit having a DC voltage source and a capacitor electrically connected to said bistable electronic means, said capacitor being charged and discharged, respectively, at first and second relative rates of charge, one of said rates of charge being a direct function of the said moisture content of said fabrics, said circuit producing an output voltage representative of the difference in the said charging rates.

Claim 30

A control system for altering the drying cycle of a clothes drier when the moisture content of fabrics being dried therein reaches a predetermined level, said fabrics being tossed about in a random manner within said drier during the said drying cycle, comprising an electrically energized means for altering said drying cycle, a bistable electronic means selectively energizing said electrically energized means in one of its states to alter said cycle and permitting said cycle to continue unaltered in the other of its states, transducer means for producing random pulses of electric energy as a function of the moisture content of said fabrics, and trigger means for said bistable electronic means interconnected with said transducer means and said bistable electronic means, said trigger means comprising a circuit having a DC voltage source and a capacitor electrically connected to said bistable electronic means, said capacitor being charged and discharged, respectively, at first and second relative rates of charge, one of said rates of charge being a direct function of the said moisture content of said fabrics, said circuit producing an output voltage representative of the differenCe in the said charging rates.

Claim 31

A control system for altering the drying cycle of a clothes drier when the moisture content of fabrics being dried therein reaches a predetermined level, said fabrics being tossed about in a random manner within said drier during the said drying cycle, comprising an electrically energized means for altering said drying cycle, a bistable electronic means selectively energizing said electrically energized means in one of its states to alter said cycle and permitting said cycle to continue unaltered in the other of its states, transducer means for producing random pulses of electric energy as a function of the moisture content of said fabrics, and trigger means for said bistable electronic means interconnected with said transducer means and said bistable electronic means, said trigger means comprising a circuit having a DC voltage source and a capacitor electrically connected to said bistable electronic means, said capacitor being charged and discharged, respectively, at first and second relative rates of charge, one of said rates of charge being a direct function of the said moisture content of said fabrics, said circuit producing an output voltage representative of the differenCe in the said charging rates.