# US 11,028,528 B2 · Clothes dryer fire reduction system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,028,528 B2 - Document ID: US11028528B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/890,095 - Filed: 2020-06-02 - Published: 2020-09-17 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-11-28 - Applicants: Mark Goodson; David J. Icove - Inventors: Mark Goodson; David J. Icove - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11028528B2 ## CPC - D06F 58/20: General details of domestic laundry dryers (D06F59/00 takes precedence) - D06F 58/30: Drying processes (controlling a series of operations in domestic laundry dryers D06F58/32) - D06F 58/38: of drying, e.g. to achieve the target humidity - D06F 58/50: Responding to irregular working conditions, e.g. malfunctioning of blowers - D06F 2103/44: Current or voltage - D06F 2103/52: related to electric heating means, e.g. temperature or voltage - D06F 2105/00: Systems or parameters controlled or affected by the control systems of washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers - D06F 2105/28: Electric heating - D06F: LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES ## Abstract A clothes dryer apparatus and system that reduces the buildup of electric charges within a dryer drum by introducing ions. The system monitors the voltage within the drum by taking measurements on voltage sensor assembly. The sensor assembly obtains a voltage when two areas of a fabric, or two separate items of the clothing, contact the sensor. If a threshold voltage is obtained, an ion generator introduces cations and anions into the drum of the dryer to neutralize the static charge of the clothing. The reduction of static electricity increases efficiency as the clothing items do not stick together which permits better heat flow and increases safety by reducing the amount of electrical charge within the drum. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fire reduction system for a clothes dryer comprising: an oxygen generator having an ambient air intake, an oxygen gas outlet, and a nitrogen gas outlet wherein the oxygen generator separates the ambient air into an oxygen gas rich composition which exits through the oxygen gas outlet and a nitrogen gas rich composition which exits through the nitrogen gas outlet; a heater fluidly connected to the nitrogen outlet; and a drum fluidly connected to the heater. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fire reduction system for a clothes dryer of claim 1 wherein the nitrogen gas rich composition is less than fifteen percent oxygen. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The fire reduction system for a clothes dryer of claim 2 further comprising: a voltage sensor positioned to measure the voltage of at least a portion of the clothing within the drum; an ion source in fluid communication the interior of the drum; and a controller in electrical communication with the voltage sensor and the ion source. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The static electricity reduction system for a clothes dryer of claim 3 wherein the controller activates the ion source upon the voltage sensor measuring a predetermined activation threshold voltage. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The static electricity reduction system for a clothes dryer of claim 4 wherein the controller deactivates the ion source upon the voltage sensor measuring a predetermined cutoff threshold voltage. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The static electricity reduction system for a clothes dryer of claim 5 wherein the controller deactivates the ion source upon the passage of a predetermined amount of time. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The static electricity reduction system for a clothes dryer of claim 4 wherein the controller deactivates the ion source upon the passage of a predetermined amount of time. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The static electricity reduction system for a clothes dryer of claim 4 further comprising a heat source in fluid communication with the interior of the drum wherein the controller deactivates the heat source is programmed to cycle between periods in which the heat source is on and the ion source is off, and periods in which the heat source is off and the ion source is on. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The static electricity reduction system for a clothes dryer of claim 3 wherein the ion source further comprises an ion generator fluidly connected to an air compressor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The static electricity reduction system for a clothes dryer of claim 9 wherein the air compressor is a modulating air compressor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 3) The static electricity reduction system for a clothes dryer of claim 3 wherein a non-metallic conduit connects the ion source to the drum. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The static electricity reduction system for a clothes dryer of claim 9 wherein a non-metallic conduit connects the ion source to the drum. ### Claim 13 (depends on 3) The static electricity reduction system for a clothes dryer of claim 3 further comprising an ultraviolet light source in visual communication with the interior of the drum. ### Claim 14 (depends on 3) The static electricity reduction system for a clothes dryer of claim 3 further comprising at least one baffle within the drum wherein the baffle contains a conductive material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The static electricity reduction system for a clothes dryer of claim 14 wherein the baffle is a plastic material containing carbon fiber or aluminum shards.