Apparatus for drying articles

• US 10,006,163 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2017
• Issued: 06/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Herman, Mark L., Peterman, Garry L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gravini, Stephen M
• Application Number:
  US15/433,748
• Publication Number:
  US 20170159231A1
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• Field of Search: 34255, 34595-610, 68 5 R, 68 19
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 37/06 Ribs, lifters, or rubbing means forming part of the receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/04 Details controlling or regulating devices D06F34/00
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/26 Heating arrangements, e.g. gas heating equipment D06F58/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/266 Microwave heating equipment
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 3/347 Electromagnetic heating, e.g. induction heating or heating using microwave energy

Abstract

A laundry treating applicator for drying laundry with a radio frequency (RF) applicator having a baffle on a drum rotatable on a non-vertical axis, an anode element in the baffle and a cathode element spaced from the anode element, wherein energization of the RF generator sends electromagnetic radiation through the applicator via the anode element and cathode element to form a field of electromagnetic radiation (e-field) in the radio frequency spectrum to dielectrically heat liquid within laundry disposed within the e-field.

Claims

1. A treating apparatus for drying articles according to a predetermined cycle of operation, comprising:

a cylindrical drum having a wall;

a baffle on the wall comprising an anode element;

at least two cathode elements about the wall circumferentially spaced from the anode element along the circumference of the wall and disposed on opposing sides of the anode element;

a capacitive coupling between the anode element and the at least two cathode elements; and

a radio frequency (RF) generator coupled to the anode element and to the at least two cathode elements and selectively energizable to generate electromagnetic radiation in the radio frequency spectrum;

wherein energization of the RF generator sends electromagnetic radiation through the apparatus via the capacitive coupling to form a field of electromagnetic radiation (e-field) in the radio frequency spectrum to dielectrically heat liquid within articles disposed within the e-field.

2. The treating apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wall of the drum supports the articles.

3. The treating apparatus of claim 1 wherein the drum is rotatable about a non-vertical axis.

4. The treating apparatus of claim 3 wherein at least one of the anode element or the at least two cathode elements extend at least a portion of a length parallel to the non-vertical axis.

5. The treating apparatus of claim 3 wherein at least a portion of the at least two cathode elements are spaced by a radial length, with respect to the non-vertical axis, from the anode element.

6. The treating apparatus of claim 1 wherein the RF generator is at least one of intermittently or continuously energizable.

7. The treating apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the at least two cathode elements are radially off-set from the anode element.

8. The treating apparatus of claim 7 further comprising two anode elements and wherein the at least one of the at least two cathode elements and the anode elements are radially arranged in an alternating configuration.

9. The treating apparatus of claim 1 comprising a single cathode element that extends radially about a majority of the wall.

10. The treating apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least two cathode elements are disposed on an outer surface of the wall.

11. The treating apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least two cathode elements are integrated within the wall.

12. The treating apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a second capacitive coupling between the RF generator and the at least two cathode elements.

13. The treating apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wall comprises a dielectric material.

14. A treating apparatus for drying articles according to a predetermined cycle of operation, comprising:

a rotatable cylindrical drum having an inner surface and an outer surface;

a baffle supported by the inner surface and including an anode element;

at least two cathode elements, wherein the anode element and the at least two cathode element are angularly spaced relative to a rotational axis of the drum and disposed on opposing sides of the anode element; and

a radio frequency (RF) generator coupled to the anode element and to the at least two cathode elements and selectively energizable to generate electromagnetic radiation in the radio frequency spectrum;

wherein at least one of the anode element and the at least two cathode elements rotate with the drum.

15. The treating apparatus of claim 14 wherein the at least two cathode elements are supported by at least one of the inner surface or the outer surface of the drum.

16. The treating apparatus of claim 15 wherein the anode element and the at least two cathode elements are angularly spaced relative to the drum such that a portion of the articles can be laterally positioned on the inner surface of the drum between the anode element and the at least two cathode elements.

17. The treating apparatus of claim 16 wherein the anode element is positioned at the lowest horizontal position of the drum and the at least two cathode elements are angularly spaced such that a substantial portion of the articles are laterally positioned between the at least two cathode elements.

18. The treating apparatus of claim 14 wherein each of the at least two cathode elements are angularly off-set from the anode element.

19. The treating apparatus of claim 14 wherein each of the at least two cathode elements are disposed about a subportion of at least one of the inner surface or the outer surface of the drum.

20. A method for drying laundry with a radio frequency (RF) generator connected to an applicator and a rotatable cylindrical drum having a fixed anode element within a baffle and at least two fixed cathode elements, and wherein the anode element and the at least two cathode elements are spaced relative to the drum and disposed on opposing sides of the anode element, the method comprising:

rotationally positioning the drum such that laundry is positioned between the anode element within the baffle and the at least two cathode elements;

energizing the RF applicator for a time period to generate a field of electromagnetic radiation (e-field) within the radio frequency spectrum between the anode element and the at least two cathode elements such that liquid in laundry residing within the e-field will be dielectrically heated to effect a drying of the laundry during the time period;

rotating the drum to redistribute laundry; and

repeating the positioning the drum and energizing the RF applicator.