Clothes washer demand response by duty cycling the heater and/or the mechanical action
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A clothes washer comprising:
- at least two power consuming features including a heater assembly configured to heat water used by the clothes washer and a drive system configured to effectuate mechanical action on a device intended to move a load of clothes disposed inside the clothes washer;
a controller configured to receive and process a signal indicative of the cost of supplied energy and, based on the received signal, is further configured to operate the clothes washer in one of a plurality of operating modes including at least a normal mode where the drive system is configured to operate over a first total cycle time and consume a first amount of energy, and an energy savings mode where drive system is configured to duty cycle so as to operate over a second total cycle time greater than the first total cycle time and consume a second amount of energy less than or equal to the first amount of energy;
wherein when the cost of supplied energy is above a user selected targeted energy cost, the controller is configured to operate the clothes washer in the energy savings mode.
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Abstract
A clothes washer is provided comprising one or more power consuming functions and a controller in signal communication with an associated utility. The controller can receive and process a signal from the associated utility indicative of current state of an associated utility. The controller operates the clothes washer in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode in response to the received signal. The controller is configured to change the power consuming functions by changing the duty cycling profile of the heater and/or mechanical action of the basket in the energy savings mode.
236 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A clothes washer comprising:
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at least two power consuming features including a heater assembly configured to heat water used by the clothes washer and a drive system configured to effectuate mechanical action on a device intended to move a load of clothes disposed inside the clothes washer; a controller configured to receive and process a signal indicative of the cost of supplied energy and, based on the received signal, is further configured to operate the clothes washer in one of a plurality of operating modes including at least a normal mode where the drive system is configured to operate over a first total cycle time and consume a first amount of energy, and an energy savings mode where drive system is configured to duty cycle so as to operate over a second total cycle time greater than the first total cycle time and consume a second amount of energy less than or equal to the first amount of energy; wherein when the cost of supplied energy is above a user selected targeted energy cost, the controller is configured to operate the clothes washer in the energy savings mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A clothes washer comprising:
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a housing; a tub or basket dimensioned to receive laundry items therein; a drive system received in the housing configured to effectuate mechanical action to the tub or basket; an inlet adapted to selectively provide water to the tub or basket; an outlet adapted to selectively drain water from the tub or basket; a heater assembly for heating water supplied through the inlet; and a controller operatively associated with the tub or basket, inlet, outlet, and heater assembly for controlling operation of the clothes washer through various operating cycles, the controller configured to receive and process a signal indicative of the cost of supplied energy and, based on the received signal, is further configured to operate the clothes washer in one of a plurality of operating modes including at least a normal mode where the drive system is configured to operate over a first total cycle time and consume a first amount of energy and an energy savings mode where the drive system is configured to duty cycle so as to operate over a second total cycle time greater than the first total cycle time and consume a second amount of energy less than or equal to the first amount of energy; wherein when the cost of supplied energy is above a user selected targeted energy cost, the controller is configured to operate the clothes washer in the energy savings mode. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification