Dishwasher incorporating a closed loop system for controlling machine load
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsWalter Whipple, III, David A. Schneider, Gregory O. Miller, Mark E. Dausch, Vivek V. Badami
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Abstract
A machine, such as a dishwasher or clothes washer, incorporates a device for measuring machine load that includes a sensor for detecting power consumption surges. The machine may further include a frame for containing articles, a power utilization system for circulating or distributing a liquid in the frame, and a controller, responsive to the device, for controlling the amount of liquid provided to the frame.
Claims14
A dishwasher for cleansing food handling items with a liquid comprising:
- a frame for containing food handling items to be cleansed;
- means for providing a liquid to said frame;
- a circulation pump for distributing said liquid in said frame;
- a motor coupled to said pump;
- a sensor for detecting power consumption surges in said motor as said frame receives said liquid;
- and
- a controller, responsive to said sensor, for controlling said liquid providing means, said controller comprising a microprocessor incorporating a fuzzy-logic feedback control algorithm adapted to process an elapsed time for distributing said liquid, an amplitude of the power consumption surges and an average slope of the power consumption surges to control said liquid providing means.
A method for cleansing food handling items with a dishwasher including power utilization means for circulating liquid in said dishwasher, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing said liquid to said dishwasher;
- (b) circulating aid liquid in said dishwasher as said dishwasher receives said liquid;
- (c) detecting power consumption surges in said power utilization means as said dishwasher receives said liquid;
- and
- (d) controlling the amount of said liquid provided to said dishwasher in accordance with the detected power consumption surges based upon a fuzzy-logic feedback control algorithm, said algorithm including the step of processing an elapsed time for distributing said liquid, an amplitude of the power consumption surges, and an average slope of the power consumption surges.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.