Electric Power Research Institute Incorporated

Patrick C Meachim

Richard D Smith

Ronald R Lentz

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.

Moisture sensor for microwave clothes dryer

Microwave clothes dryer and method in which an impending fire and/or explosion is detected by monitoring gases from the drying chamber with a solid state gas sensor to detect the presence of a gas associated with fire or an explosion. In the disclosed embodiments, the gases to be detected include ethane, propane, butane, toluene, hydrogen sulfide, alcohol, and combinations thereof.

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Oakdale, CA, United States of America

Patrick C Meachim