Lint filter clogging detection in a dryer appliance based on airflow
AssigneeHaier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
InventorsSarah Heiniger, David Scott Dunn, Jivko Ognianov Djerekarov, Ionelia Silvia Prajescu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A laundry appliance uses a determination of volumetric airflow rate after a steady state condition is reached to determine the accumulation of lint in filter. Based on the determination, various actions can be taken including notifying the user, shutting off the appliance, initiating an automatic cleaning sequence for one or more lint filters, and combinations thereof. One or more temperature sensors, relative humidity sensors, and weight sensors are used to provide measurements for determining the volumetric airflow rate.
Claims20
A method of operating an appliance used for drying a load of articles placed into a compartment of the appliance, the method comprising:
- beginning a drying cycle for the load of articles;
- determining when a steady state condition has been reached during the drying cycle for the load of articles;
- measuring temperature and relative humidity of air supplied to the compartment during the steady state condition;
- measuring temperature and relative humidity of air received from the compartment during the steady state condition;
- assessing a moisture extraction rate from the load or articles during the steady state condition;
- ascertaining an amount of moisture per unit volume of air removed from the load of articles in the compartment during the steady state condition;
- and
- calculating the airflow rate of air during the steading state condition using the previously assessed moisture extraction rate and the previously ascertained amount of moisture per unit volume of air removed from the load of articles in the compartment.
A laundry appliance, comprising:
- a cabinet;
- a drum located in the cabinet and defining a compartment for receipt of articles for drying during a drying cycle;
- a conditioning system connected with an air flow path and configured to supply air to the compartment to vaporize moisture from articles in the compartment and also configured to receive the air from the compartment after contact with the articles;
- means for determining an average moisture extraction rate from articles placed in the compartment;
- a first temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the air supplied to the compartment;
- a first relative humidity sensor for measuring the relative humidity of the air supplied to the compartment;
- a second temperature for measuring the temperature of the air received from the compartment;
- a second relative humidity sensor for measuring the relative humidity of the air received from the compartment;
- and
- a controller configured for
- determining when a steady state condition has been reached during the drying cycle for the load of articles;
- receiving temperature and relative humidity measurements from for the air supplied to the compartment and for air received from the compartment during the steady state condition;
- assessing a moisture extraction rate from the load or articles during the steady state condition;
- ascertaining an amount of moisture per unit volume of air removed from the load of articles in the compartment during the steady state condition;
- and
- calculating the airflow rate of air during the steading state condition using the previously assessed moisture extraction rate and the previously ascertained amount of moisture per unit volume of air removed from the load of articles in the compartment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.