Dielectric dryer drum
First Claim
1. A method for heating an object having a variable weight that includes a medium, said method comprising:
- placing said object including said medium into an enclosure comprising a rotating drum having at least one anode element and at least one cathode area;
wherein said object absorbs said medium in a first “
cool”
state, and said object includes a maximum weight in said first “
cool”
state due to absorption of said medium;
initiating a heating process by capacitively coupling said object to an AC electrical field originated from an RF power source;
wherein said object including said medium transitions into a second “
heated”
state in which there is less medium than in said “
cool”
state due to release of said medium from said object; and
controlling said heating process by taking real time measurements and by controlling RF parameters in real time based upon said measurements;
wherein;
said heating process is completed when said object is transitioned into said second “
heated”
state; and
said parameters are selected from the group of parameters consisting of an RF voltage magnitude and envelope wave shape, an applied RF current magnitude and envelope wave shape, phase of RF voltage versus current, and voltage standing wave ration.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for heating an object having a variable weight that includes a medium is provided. The method comprises: (A) placing the object having the variable weight including medium into an enclosure; (B) initiating a heating process by subjecting medium including the object having the variable weight to a variable AC electrical field; and (C) controlling the heating process. The object has substantially absorbed medium in a first “cool” state and therefore includes a maximum weight in the first “cool” state due to absorption of medium. The object is substantially free from medium in a second “heated” state due to substantial release of medium from the object, wherein the released medium is evaporated during the heating process. The heating process is completed when the object is substantially transitioned into the second “heated” state. The method further comprises using an air flow having an ambient temperature inside the enclosure to carry away the evaporated medium from the enclosure.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for heating an object having a variable weight that includes a medium, said method comprising:
-
placing said object including said medium into an enclosure comprising a rotating drum having at least one anode element and at least one cathode area;
wherein said object absorbs said medium in a first “
cool”
state, and said object includes a maximum weight in said first “
cool”
state due to absorption of said medium;initiating a heating process by capacitively coupling said object to an AC electrical field originated from an RF power source;
wherein said object including said medium transitions into a second “
heated”
state in which there is less medium than in said “
cool”
state due to release of said medium from said object; andcontrolling said heating process by taking real time measurements and by controlling RF parameters in real time based upon said measurements;
wherein;said heating process is completed when said object is transitioned into said second “
heated”
state; andsaid parameters are selected from the group of parameters consisting of an RF voltage magnitude and envelope wave shape, an applied RF current magnitude and envelope wave shape, phase of RF voltage versus current, and voltage standing wave ration. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 15, 16)
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2. A method for heating an object having a variable weight that includes a medium, said method comprising:
-
placing said object including said medium into a rotating enclosure;
wherein said object absorbs said medium in a first “
cool”
state; and
said object includes a maximum weight in said first “
cool”
state due to absorption of said medium;initiating a heating process by subjecting said medium including said object to an AC electrical field originated from an RF power source;
wherein said object including said medium transitions into a second “
heated”
state in which there is less medium than in said “
cool”
state due to release of said medium from said object;
said rotating enclosure comprises at least one anode element and at least one cathode area; and
at least one said anode element is connected to said RF power source by a connector comprising a capacitive coupling; andcontrolling said heating process by taking real time measurements of impedance of object, and by controlling RF parameters in real time based upon said measurements, wherein said heating process is completed when said object is transitioned into said second “
heated”
state. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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3. A method for heating an object having a variable weight that includes a medium;
- said method comprising;
placing said object including said medium into a rotating enclosure;
wherein said object has absorbed said medium in a first “
cool”
state; and
said object includes a maximum weight in said first “
cool”
state due to absorption of said medium;initiating a heating process by subjecting said medium including said object to an AC electrical field originated from an RF power source;
wherein said object including said medium transitions into a second “
heated”
state in which there is less medium than in said “
cool”
state due to release of said medium from said object;
said rotating enclosure comprises at least one anode element and at least one conductive cathode area;
the object comprises a load of clothing;
said medium comprises water;
at least one said anode element is connected to said RF power source by a connector comprising a capacitive coupling; and
said conductive cathode area of said enclosure is connected to ground by a capacitive coupling; andcontrolling said heating process by taking real time measurements of impedance of the object, and by controlling RF parameters in real time based upon said measurements, wherein said heating process is completed when said object is transitioned into said second “
heated”
state. - View Dependent Claims (14)
- said method comprising;
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11. A method for heating an object having a variable weight that includes a medium, said method comprising:
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placing said object having said variable weight including said medium into a rotating enclosure;
wherein said object has absorbed said medium in a first “
cool”
state; and
wherein said object includes a maximum weight in said first “
cool”
state due to absorption of said medium;initiating a heating process by subjecting said medium including said object to a variable AC electrical field introduced into the rotating enclosure by an anode located within the enclosure;
wherein said object including said medium transitions into a second “
heated”
state in which there is less medium than in said “
cool”
state due to release of said medium from said object; and
wherein said released medium is evaporated during said heating process;selecting a connection from a conductive cathode area of said rotating enclosure to a ground return path of said RF power source from the group consisting of;
a rotating capacitive connection; and
a non rotating capacitive connection; andoptimizing said heating process by at least one of adjusting spacing between the anode and the object, and optimizing parasitic capacitance between the anode and the conductive cathode area.
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Specification