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, capactively 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.
Claims20
A method to dry an article with a radio frequency (RF) applicator having a first anode element, a second anode element, a first cathode element, and a second cathode element, each second anode and cathode elements supported on a support element, the method comprising:
- capacitively couple, through the support element, the first anode element to the second anode element, and the first cathode element to the second cathode element;
- capacitively couple the second anode element to the second cathode element;
- and
- energize the RF applicator to generate a field of electromagnetic radiation (e-field) within a radio frequency spectrum between the second anode and second cathode elements;
- wherein liquid in the article residing within the e-field will be dielectrically heated to effect a drying of the article.
An article treatment appliance to dry an article according to a predetermined cycle of operation, comprising:
- a support element;
- a first anode element and a first cathode element;
- a second anode element and a second cathode element operably supported by the support element;
- the first anode element capacitively coupled with the second anode element and operably separated by at least a portion of the support element;
- the first cathode element capacitively coupled with the second cathode element and operably separated by at least a portion of the support element;
- the second anode element capacitively coupled with the second cathode element and operably spaced from each other;
- and
- a radio frequency (RF) applicator coupled with the first anode element and the first cathode element and operable to selectively energize to generate electromagnetic radiation in a radio frequency spectrum;
- wherein the energization of the RF applicator sends electromagnetic radiation through the applicator via the capacitive couples to form a field of electromagnetic radiation, e-field, in the radio frequency spectrum, operable to dielectrically heat liquid within the article on the support element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.