Power distribution system for an appliance
First Claim
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1. An electric cooking appliance having an available power supply limit comprising:
- a first power consumption device having an associated first power consumption level, said first power consumption device constituting a first oven of the cooking appliance;
a second power consumption device having an associated second power consumption level, said second power consumption device constituting a second oven of the cooking appliance;
a third power consumption device having an associated third power consumption level, said third power consumption device constituting a plurality of surface heating elements of the cooking appliance, wherein the first, second and third power consumption levels collectively exceed the available supply limit;
a first sensor for monitoring a power consumption related operating parameter of the first power consumption device;
a second sensor for monitoring a power consumption related operating parameter of the second power consumption device; and
an electronic controller for distributing power to activated ones of the first second and third power consumption devices based on signals received from at least one of said first and second sensors, said controller distributing power on a predetermined priority basis when a collective power consumption level of activated ones of the first, second and third power consumption devices would exceed the available supply limit.
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Abstract
An appliance includes a plurality of electric power consuming devices having associated activated power consumption levels which collectively can exceed an available power supply limit to the appliance. The appliance includes a control system for power distributing to the various devices in a manner which optimizes performance while preventing the current draw from exceeding the established limit. In the most preferred embodiment, the appliance constitutes a range having various heating components, preferably first and second ovens, as well as a plurality of surface heating elements. A current monitoring arrangement signals demanded current levels from certain ones of the heating components, with the signals being used by the control system to distribute the available current on a predetermined priority basis.
72 Citations
11 Claims
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1. An electric cooking appliance having an available power supply limit comprising:
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a first power consumption device having an associated first power consumption level, said first power consumption device constituting a first oven of the cooking appliance; a second power consumption device having an associated second power consumption level, said second power consumption device constituting a second oven of the cooking appliance; a third power consumption device having an associated third power consumption level, said third power consumption device constituting a plurality of surface heating elements of the cooking appliance, wherein the first, second and third power consumption levels collectively exceed the available supply limit; a first sensor for monitoring a power consumption related operating parameter of the first power consumption device; a second sensor for monitoring a power consumption related operating parameter of the second power consumption device; and an electronic controller for distributing power to activated ones of the first second and third power consumption devices based on signals received from at least one of said first and second sensors, said controller distributing power on a predetermined priority basis when a collective power consumption level of activated ones of the first, second and third power consumption devices would exceed the available supply limit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of distributing power to multiple power consumption devices, including a first oven, a second oven and a plurality of surface heating elements of a cooking appliance, which if actuated simultaneously, would collectively exceed the available power supply limit to the appliance comprising;
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delivering a demanded power level to each of the activated one of said power consumption devices so long as a collective, demanded power level of the activated ones of said power consumption devices is below the available power supply limit; individually monitoring a power consumption related operating parameter for each of a plurality of the multiple power consumption devices; and distributing power to the activated ones of said power consumption devices on a predetermined priority basis when the activated power consumption levels of the power consumption devices would exceed the available power supply limit. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification
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Current AssigneeMaytag Corporation (Whirlpool Corporation)
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Original AssigneeMaytag Corporation (Whirlpool Corporation)
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InventorsKendall, Anthony E., Brown, John Scott
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Primary Examiner(s)Jeffery, John A.
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Application NumberUS09/349,075Time in Patent Office516 DaysField of Search219/485, 219/486, 219/508, 219/487, 219/394, 219/398, 219/414, 219/446.1, 219/480, 219/412, 307/39, 307/41, 307/35, 307/38US Class Current219/486CPC Class CodesF24C 7/087 of electric circuits regula...
