Method and apparatus for drying articles
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsMark L. Herman, Daniel M. Putnam
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for drying a wet textile article with a radio frequency (RF) applicator and a controller, the method includes energizing the RF applicator to generate a field of electromagnetic radiation (e-field), determining a dynamic drying cycle of operation in the controller, and controlling the energization of the RF applicator according to the determination of the dynamic drying cycle of operation, wherein the wet article is dried.
Claims20
A method for dehydrating a wet article with a radio frequency (RF) applicator having an anode element, a cathode element, and a controller, the method comprising:
- capacitively coupling the anode element to the cathode element;
- energizing the RF applicator to generate a field of electromagnetic radiation (e-field) within the radio frequency spectrum between the anode and cathode elements;
- determining in the controller a dynamic drying cycle of operation;
- and
- controlling the energization of the RF applicator according to the determination of the dynamic drying cycle of operation wherein liquid in the wet article residing within the e-field will be dielectrically heated to effect a drying of the wet article.
A textile material treating applicator for dehydrating a wet article according to a dynamic drying cycle of operation, comprising:
- an anode element and a cathode element;
- a capacitive couple between the anode element and the cathode element;
- a radio frequency (RF) generator coupled to the anode element and the cathode element and selectively energizable to generate electromagnetic radiation in the radio frequency spectrum wherein the energization of the RF generator sends electromagnetic radiation through the applicator via the capacitive couple to form a field of electromagnetic radiation (e-field) in the radio frequency spectrum to dielectrically heat liquid within the wet article proximate to at least one of the anode element or the cathode element;
- and
- a controller coupled with the RF generator to determine the dynamic drying cycle of operation and to control the energization of the RF generator according to the determination of the dynamic drying cycle of operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.