Method and means for indicating an appliance condition

• US 5,467,077 A
• Filed: 12/16/1993
• Issued: 11/14/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Anvil Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Maytag Corporation (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Inventors: Shannon, Donald N., Kuhn, L. Dean, Herr, Nedra A., Wunderlich, Daniel F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LIEU, JULIE BICHNGOC
• Application Number:
  US08/168,664
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 340/635, 340/691, 340/331, 340/525, 34/88, 34/89, 34/524, 34/528, 34/533
• US Class Current: 340/635
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/00 Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/32 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/34 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/38 Time, e.g. duration
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/28 Electric heating
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/58 Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/08 Control circuits or arrangements thereof
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/38 of drying, e.g. to achieve the target humidity

Abstract

A display is provided for indicating changes between first and second operating conditions in an appliance such as a clothes dryer. A sensing circuit senses changes in operating conditions within the appliance. The sensing circuit creates an intermittent sensing signal which is sent to a light. The light blinks at a frequency corresponding to the frequency of the sensor signal. A second light remains lit continuously during the operation of the appliance.

Claims

1. Apparatus for displaying the progressive drying of initially moist fabrics from a wet condition to a dry condition within a rotating drum of a drying appliance, said apparatus comprising:

a moisture sensing circuit including a pair of spaced apart sensor bars in said drum, said moisture sensing circuit being capable of creating an intermittent sensor signal having a high frequency when said sensor bars are bridged by said moist fabrics and having a progressively lower frequency down to a frequency of zero corresponding to the progressive drying of said fabrics to said dry condition;

a power source;

an electrically actuatable indicator connected to said power source;

a gate connected between said power source and said indicator and also being connected to said sensor bars of said moisture sensing circuit, said gate being adapted to change from a normally open circuit condition preventing electrical connection between said power source and said indicator to a closed circuit condition causing electrical connection from said power source to said indicator in response to said sensor signal and at a frequency corresponding to said frequency of said sensor signal whereby said indicator will be actuated at a frequency corresponding to said frequency of said sensor signal.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising a timer motor connected to said power source, a thermistor connected between said timer motor and ground, said thermistor connected to said gate for receiving said sensor signal therefrom and for deactivating said timer motor when said frequency of said sensor signal is above a predetermined frequency.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 and further comprising a second indicator connected to said power source for being continuously actuated, said timer motor having a predetermined cycle and being adapted to disconnect said second indicator from said power source at the end of said predetermined cycle.

4. A method for displaying the progressive drying of initially moist fabrics from a wet condition to a dry condition within a rotating drum of a drying appliance, said method comprising:

creating an intermittent sensor signal with a moisture sensing circuit including a pair of spaced apart sensor bars within said drum by bridging said sensor bars with damp fabrics during rotation of said drum, said intermittent sensor signal having a high frequency when said fabrics are in said wet condition and a progressively decreasing frequency down to a zero frequency corresponding to the progressive drying of said fabrics to said dry condition;

connecting an actuatable indicator to a power source;

connecting a gate between said power source and said indicator;

connecting said sensor bars of said moisture sensing circuit to said gate;

changing said gate from an open circuit condition preventing actuation of said indicator to a closed circuit condition connecting said indicator to said power source for actuating said indicator;

said changing of said gate being done in response to said sensor signal from said sensor bars and at the same frequency as said frequency of said sensor signal, whereby said indicator will be actuated at a frequency corresponding to said frequency of said sensor signal.

5. A method according to claim 4 and further comprising connecting a timer motor and a thermistor in series with said power source, connecting said thermistor to said gate for energizing of said thermistor whenever said gate is in said closed circuit condition, deactuating said timer motor in response to energizing of said thermistor, and activating said motor after said sensor signal has reached a predetermined frequency.

6. A method according to claim 5 and further comprising actuating a second indicator continuously while said fabrics are changing from said wet condition to said dry condition and while said timer motor is actuated.