Method for drying articles
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsMark L. Herman, Garry L. Peterman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for drying an article with a radio frequency (RF) applicator having anode elements and cathode elements includes capacitively coupling the anode elements, capacitively coupling the cathode elements, capacitively coupling an anode element to a cathode element, and energizing the RF applicator to generate an RF field between anode and cathode elements wherein liquid residing within the field will be dielectrically heated.
Claims18
A method to dry an article in a dryer drum with a radio frequency (RF) applicator having a first partial anode ring disposed adjacent to the lowest gravitational point of the drum, a second anode element, a first partial cathode ring disposed adjacent to the lowest gravitational point of the drum opposite the first partial anode ring, and a second cathode element, the method comprising:
- electrically coupling an electrode of the RF applicator to the first partial anode ring and another electrode of the RF applicator to the first partial cathode ring;
- capacitively coupling the first partial anode ring to the second anode element, and the first partial cathode ring to the second cathode element;
- capacitively coupling the second anode element to the second cathode element;
- and
- energizing the RF applicator to energize the first partial anode ring and the first partial cathode ring, thereby inducing energization between the first partial anode ring and the second anode, and between the first partial cathode ring and the second cathode respectively to generate a field of electromagnetic radiation (e-field) between the second anode and second cathode elements;
- wherein liquid in the article residing within the e-field is dielectrically heated by the e-field to effect a drying of the article.
An article treatment appliance to dry an article according to a predetermined cycle of operation, comprising:
- a first partial anode ring partially encircling a first radial segment of a drum and disposed adjacent to the lowest gravitational point of the drum;
- a first partial cathode ring partially encircling a second radial segment of the drum disposed adjacent to the lowest gravitational point of the drum opposite the first partial anode ring;
- a second anode element and a second cathode element;
- the first partial anode ring capacitively coupled with the second anode element and operably separated by a dielectric;
- the first partial cathode ring capacitively coupled with the second cathode element and operably separated by a dielectric;
- and
- a radio frequency (RF) applicator with an electrode electrically coupled with the first partial anode ring and another electrode electrically coupled with the first partial cathode ring and operable to selectively energize the first partial anode ring and the first partial cathode ring in a radio frequency spectrum;
- wherein the energization of the first partial anode ring and first partial cathode ring induces energization between the first partial anode ring and the second anode, and between the first partial cathode ring and the second cathode to generate a field of electromagnetic radiation in the radio frequency spectrum between the second anode and the second cathode, operable to dielectrically heat liquid within the article.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.