Whirlpool Corporation

Andrew Charles Reck

Christopher J Woerdehoff

David John Kmet

Joshua Paul Carroll

Joseph M Szynal

Mark Eugene Glotzbach

James Phillips Carow

Donald E Janke

Edwin H Frohbieter

Larry J Manson

Patrick J Glotzbach

Michele A Paustian

Shawn Richard Oltz

Michael E Range

Gerald C Stenger

Roger D Jewell

Steven D Ficke

Beth A Maddix

Brian R McClure

James Frederick Swanson

A household appliance functions according to multiple operating cycles, wherein each operating cycle comprises at least one step characterized by a parameter having a factory-set default value. A user can access a controller of the household appliance through a user interface to simultaneously set new default values for a parameter common to at least two of the multiple operating cycles.

Household appliance with user selected default settings

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.

Drying mode for automatic clothes dryer

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.

Combined temperature sensor for clothes dryer

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.

Fuzzy logic control for an electric clothes dryer

A hybrid control for a clothes dryer which combines an electromechanical timer and a microprocessor. The electromechanical timer has a plurality of switches connected to a plurality of input ports of the microprocessor. The timer switches are driven by a plurality of cams such that the plurality of switches open and close in response to the cams at predetermined angular positions of the timer. In this manner, the switches provide control input to the electronic circuit for initiating the dry cycle and further provide control input to the electronic circuit during the dry cycle such that the electromechanical timer and the electronic circuit operate together to control the dryer operation. In addition, a sensor supplies a signal to the microprocessor corresponding to the moisture level of the clothes within the drum. If the dryer is operated in an automatic cycle of operation, the microprocessor operates to control operation of the clothes dryer in response to the initial timer position and advances the timer in response to the moisture sensor signal such that cycle status information corresponding to the sensed moisture level is displayed by the position of the timer knob. The microprocessor operates to drive the timer at different speeds depending on the cycle selection and control settings. The duration of the automatic dry cycle is responsive to the moisture level selected, the temperature level selected and the duration of the initial moisture sensing drying period.

Control system for a dryer

An ice maker for use in a domestic refrigerator makes clear ice bodies. The ice maker comprises a support arranged to have an ice body formed thereon. The support is refrigerated to a below-freezing temperature and a container adapted to hold a body of water is moved to move liquid water contained therein uniformly about the support suitable to cause a clear substantially symmetrical ice body to build up outwardly on the refrigerated support.

Clear cube ice maker

Growing community of inventors

Watervliet, MI, United States of America

Andrew Charles Reck