US3864844A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Solid state dryer control
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1973-10-26
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Granted: 1975-02-11
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Expires: 1993-10-26
Abstract
Abstract A system for controlling the operation of the drive motor and heater elements of a dryer. The system includes a dryness-sensing circuit, a cool-down control and a heater-temperature control. The cool-down control and the heater-temperature control monitor the status of a common, heat-sensitive transducer, the heatertemperature control serving to maintain the temperature within the dryer at a predetermined level by controlling current flow to a heater element, and the cool-down control serving to terminate the operation of the dryer upon reception of signals from both the dryness-sensing control and the heat-sensitive transducer which indicate both a satisfactory value of fabric dryness and an acceptably low temperature level.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald S Heidtmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 05:50
CPC Classifications
F; F26; F26B; F26B21/00; F26B21/30; F26B21/35; D; D06; D06F; D06F34/00; D06F34/08; F26B25/00; F26B25/22; D06F2103/00; D06F2103/02; D06F2103/08; D06F2103/10; D06F2103/28; D06F2103/32; D06F2105/00; D06F2105/28; D06F2105/46; D06F34/04; D06F34/14; D06F34/18; D06F58/00; D06F58/32; D06F58/34; D06F58/36; D06F58/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
232 words
In a fabric dryer of the type having a rotatable drum for tumbling fabrics and including heating means and drive means for rotating said drum, solid-state means for controlling the operating of said dryer comprising: first sensing means including a moisture sensor, charging capacitor and switch for detecting the moisture content of fabrics disposed within said dryer, said first sensing means producing a signal when said moisture content has declined to a predetermined value; transducer means for sensing the temperature within said dryer and producing a signal repesentative thereof; first control means including a zero-voltage switch for receiving said signals produced by said first sensing means and said transducer means, said first control means regulating the operation of said heating means in response to signals received from said transducer means, said first control means further including a first gated bilateral switch for controlling current flow to said heating means and acting to de-energize said heating means upon reception of said signal produced by said first sensing means; and second control means including voltage-level sensing trigger means for receiving said signals produced by said first sensing means and said transducer means, said second control means including a second gated bilateral switch for controlling current flow to said drive means and acting to terminate the operation of said drive means upon reception oF signals from both said first sensing means and said transducer means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
232 words
In a fabric dryer of the type having a rotatable drum for tumbling fabrics and including heating means and drive means for rotating said drum, solid-state means for controlling the operating of said dryer comprising: first sensing means including a moisture sensor, charging capacitor and switch for detecting the moisture content of fabrics disposed within said dryer, said first sensing means producing a signal when said moisture content has declined to a predetermined value; transducer means for sensing the temperature within said dryer and producing a signal repesentative thereof; first control means including a zero-voltage switch for receiving said signals produced by said first sensing means and said transducer means, said first control means regulating the operation of said heating means in response to signals received from said transducer means, said first control means further including a first gated bilateral switch for controlling current flow to said heating means and acting to de-energize said heating means upon reception of said signal produced by said first sensing means; and second control means including voltage-level sensing trigger means for receiving said signals produced by said first sensing means and said transducer means, said second control means including a second gated bilateral switch for controlling current flow to said drive means and acting to terminate the operation of said drive means upon reception oF signals from both said first sensing means and said transducer means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
276 words
A solid-state control system for a fabric dryer of the type having a rotatable drum for tumbling fabrics, said dryer including heating means and drive menas for rotating said drum, comprising: first sensing means including a moisture sensor, charging capacitor and switch for sensing the moisture content of fabrics disposed within said dryer, said first sensing means producing a signal when said moisture content has declined to a predetermined value; transducer means for sensing the temperature within said dryer, said transducer means producing a continuous signal, the magnitude of said signal representing the level of the temperature; solid-state switch means to receive said signal produced by said first sensing means, said switch means being actuated upon reception of said signal; first control means including a solid-state zero-crossing, synchronous switch for receiving said signal produced by said transducer means, said first control means including a first gated bilateral switch for controlling current flow to said heating means and being operative to regulate said heating means in response to said signal, said first control means further being coupled to said switch means for de-energizing said heating means upon the actuation of said switch means; and second control means including a solid-state voltage-level sensor trigger means for receiving said signal produced by said transducer means, said second control means further being coupled to said switch means, said second control means including a second gated bilateral switch for controlling the current flow to said drive means and being operable to de-energize said drive means upon actuation of said switch means and upon reception of a signal from said transducer means representing a temperature whose level is below a predetermined value.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
276 words
A solid-state control system for a fabric dryer of the type having a rotatable drum for tumbling fabrics, said dryer including heating means and drive menas for rotating said drum, comprising: first sensing means including a moisture sensor, charging capacitor and switch for sensing the moisture content of fabrics disposed within said dryer, said first sensing means producing a signal when said moisture content has declined to a predetermined value; transducer means for sensing the temperature within said dryer, said transducer means producing a continuous signal, the magnitude of said signal representing the level of the temperature; solid-state switch means to receive said signal produced by said first sensing means, said switch means being actuated upon reception of said signal; first control means including a solid-state zero-crossing, synchronous switch for receiving said signal produced by said transducer means, said first control means including a first gated bilateral switch for controlling current flow to said heating means and being operative to regulate said heating means in response to said signal, said first control means further being coupled to said switch means for de-energizing said heating means upon the actuation of said switch means; and second control means including a solid-state voltage-level sensor trigger means for receiving said signal produced by said transducer means, said second control means further being coupled to said switch means, said second control means including a second gated bilateral switch for controlling the current flow to said drive means and being operable to de-energize said drive means upon actuation of said switch means and upon reception of a signal from said transducer means representing a temperature whose level is below a predetermined value.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
A control system as defined in claim 1 wherein said control system is energized by alternating voltage, and wherein said first control means is operable to energize said first gated bilateral switch each time said alternating voltage undergoes a change in polarity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A control system as defined in claim 3 wherein said transducer means comprises a temperature-sensitive resistive element to be connected to a source of direct current, the voltage drop occuring across said resistive element representing the temperature within the dryer.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-10 | 1978-08-12 | 1979-02-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-10 | 1982-08-12 | 1983-02-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-10 | 1986-08-12 | 1987-02-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |