DISHWASHER WITH CONTROLLED DRY CYCLE

• US 20140059880A1
• Filed: 08/28/2012
• Published: 03/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: BERTSCH, ROGER J., KABALA, KEELEY M., MELO, RAFAEL C., VALLEJO NORIEGA, ALVARO
• Granted Patent: US 9,895,044 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 34/443
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0034 Drying phases, including dripping-off phases
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/483 by using condensers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/18 Air temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/19 Air humidity
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/20 Time, e.g. elapsed operating time
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/10 Air circulation, e.g. air intake or venting arrangements

Abstract

A method of drying dishes in a dishwasher having a condensation system for extracting liquid from air within a treating chamber of the dishwasher to control the dry cycle of the dishes in the treating chamber.

Claims

1. A method of drying dishes in a dishwasher having a condensation system for extracting liquid from air within a treating chamber of the dishwasher, the method comprising:

supplying air external to the treating chamber over a condenser of the condensation system;

determining a difference value indicative of a temperature difference between the external air and the treating chamber air;

setting a circulating time based on the difference value; and

circulating the treating chamber air through the condenser for the circulating time during the supplying of the external air.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining an absolute humidity of the treating chamber air and setting the circulating time based on the determined absolute humidity and the difference value.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the determining the absolute humidity comprises at least one of anecdotally determining the absolute humidity, estimating the absolute humidity, and sensing the absolute humidity.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising determining a moisture removal value indicative of the rate of moisture removed by the condensation system for the determined difference value, and using the moisture removal value and the determined absolute humidity to set the circulating time.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising determining an ending absolute humidity value indicative of the dishes being dried and setting the circulating time based on the time it takes to reduce the determined absolute humidity to the ending absolute humidity value for the determined moisture removal value.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the air external to the treating chamber comprises ambient air surrounding the dishwasher.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the difference value comprises determining a treating chamber air temperature value, determining an external air temperature value, and taking the difference between the treating chamber air temperature value and the external air temperature value.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the determining the treating chamber air temperature value and the determining the external air temperature value comprises sensing the treating chamber air temperature and sensing the external air temperature value, respectively.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising ceasing the circulating upon the passing of the circulating time.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising redetermining the difference value and correspondingly resetting the circulating time.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the difference value comprises determining a rate of change of the temperature difference between the external air and the treating chamber air.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the difference value comprises determining a rate of change of the temperature difference between the external air and the treating chamber air.

12. A method of drying dishes in a dishwasher having a treating chamber with a condenser fluidly coupled to the treating chamber, the method comprising:

determining an absolute humidity for air within the treating chamber;

removing moisture from the treating chamber air by circulating treating chamber air from the treating chamber, through the condenser, and back to the treating chamber;

supplying air external to the treating chamber over the condenser during the circulating of the treating chamber air;

determining a difference value indicative of a temperature differential between the treating chamber air and the external air;

setting a circulating time based on the determined absolute humidity and the difference value; and

terminating the circulating upon the passing of the circulating time.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the determining the absolute humidity comprises at least one of anecdotally determining the absolute humidity, estimating the absolute humidity, and sensing the absolute humidity.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising determining a moisture removal value indicative of the rate of moisture removed by the condensation system for the determined difference value, and using the moisture removal value and the determined absolute humidity to set the circulating time.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising determining an ending absolute humidity value indicative of the dishes being dried and setting the circulating time based on the time it takes to reduce the determined absolute humidity to the ending absolute humidity value for the determined moisture removal value.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein determining the difference value comprises determining a treating chamber air temperature value, determining an external air temperature value, and taking the difference between the treating chamber air temperature value and the external air temperature value.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the determining the treating chamber air temperature value and the determining the external air temperature value comprises sensing the treating chamber air temperature and sensing the external air temperature value, respectively.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the air external to the treating chamber comprises ambient air surrounding the dishwasher.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising redetermining the difference value and correspondingly resetting the circulating time.