# US 7,609,491 B2 · Clothes dryer motor with broken belt switch > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,609,491 B2 - Document ID: US7609491B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/549,192 - Filed: 2006-10-13 - Published: 2008-04-17 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2006-10-13 - Assignees: Emerson Electric Co. - Inventors: Philip S. Johnson; Marshall J. Huggins; Michael Peebles; John R. Holden - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7609491B2 ## CPC - H02H 7/093: against increase beyond, or decrease below, a predetermined level of rotational speed (centrifugal switches H01H35/10) - D06F 58/08: Driving arrangements - D06F 58/50: Responding to irregular working conditions, e.g. malfunctioning of blowers - D06F 2103/00: Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers - D06F 2105/46: Drum speed; Actuation of motors, e.g. starting or interrupting - D06F 2105/62: Stopping or disabling machine operation - H02H: EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS (indicating or signalling undesired working conditions G01R, e.g. G01R31/00, G08B; locating faults along lines G01R31/08; emergency protective devices H01H) - D06F: LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES ## Abstract A clothes dryer includes a motor adapted to be mounted on a frame of the dryer for driving a dryer belt to rotate a drum of the dryer. The motor includes a rotor adapted to rotate the belt, at least one winding energizable to cause rotation of the rotor, and a first switch operable to control energization of the winding. A second switch has a sensor for sensing belt breakage. The second switch is mounted on the first switch and is electrically connected to the winding so that when the belt is no longer sensed, the second switch stops operation of the winding and thereby stops rotation of the rotor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A clothes dryer motor adapted to be mounted on a frame of the dryer for driving a dryer belt to rotate a drum of the dryer, the motor comprising: a rotor adapted to rotate the belt, at least one winding energizable to cause rotation of the rotor, a first switch operable to control energization of the winding, and a second switch having a sensor for sensing belt breakage, the second switch being mounted on the first switch and electrically connected to the winding so that when the belt is no longer sensed, the second switch stops operation of the winding and thereby stops rotation of the rotor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The dryer motor of claim 1 wherein the at least one winding includes a main winding, and a start winding operable to cause rotation of the rotor at motor start-up, the first switch operable to control energization of both windings. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The dryer motor of claim 2 further comprising a motor protector electrically connected to the main and start windings, and wherein the second switch is electrically connected in series with the main and start windings. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The dryer motor of claim 3 wherein the second switch is a microswitch adapted for automatic reset. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The dryer motor of claim 4 wherein the sensor of the second switch is an arm extending from the second switch to the belt, the arm being operable to open the second switch when the belt malfunctions. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The dryer motor of claim 1 further comprising a mounting plate mounted between the first and second switches. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The dryer motor of claim 1 in combination with the dryer, the dryer including a heater, and wherein the motor and dryer are wired together such that opening of the second switch causes the heater operation to cease. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The dryer motor of claim 1 in combination with the dryer, the dryer including an idler arm in contact with the belt and adapted to pivot upon belt breakage, the idler arm triggering the second switch when the belt breaks. ### Claim 9 A clothes dryer motor adapted to be mounted on a frame of the dryer for driving a dryer belt to rotate a drum of the dryer, the motor comprising: a motor frame mountable on the dryer frame and having an outwardly facing surface, and a belt break switch mounted on the surface of the motor frame adjacent the belt and having an arm disposed to sense dryer belt breakage, the switch operable to inhibit power to the motor whenever the dryer belt breaks, a main switch, wherein the break switch and the main switch are provided as an integral unit with the connections between the break switch and the main switch being pre-wired. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The dryer motor of claim 9 wherein the break switch cuts power to the motor in response to movement of the arm. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The dryer motor of claim 10 wherein the arm is disposed to be moved by an idler arm of the dryer frame, the idler arm moving in response to belt breakage. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The dryer motor of claim 9 wherein the switch is an automatic reset switch so that the switch automatically resets after replacement of the broken belt. ### Claim 13 A clothes dryer motor for rotating a drum of the dryer via a dryer belt, the motor comprising: a rotor adapted to rotate the belt, a main winding operable to cause rotation of the rotor, a start winding operable to cause rotation of the rotor at motor start-up, a protector assembly electrically connected to the main and start windings, a main switch operable to stop operation of the start winding at a predetermined rotor speed, and a motor frame for mounting the rotor, the windings, the protector assembly and the main switch, the frame having a surface, the protector assembly including a belt switch having an arm, the belt switch being mounted on the surface of the frame and operable to stop operation of the motor whenever a belt malfunction occurs, wherein the protector assembly is in series with the main and start windings. ### Claim 14 A clothes dryer motor for rotating a drum of the dryer via a dryer belt, the motor comprising: a rotor adapted to rotate the belt, a main winding operable to cause rotation of the rotor, a start winding operable to cause rotation of the rotor at motor start-up, a protector assembly electrically connected to the main and start windings, a main switch operable to stop operation of the start winding at a predetermined rotor speed, and a motor frame for mounting the rotor, the windings, the protector assembly and the main switch, the frame having a surface, the protector assembly including a belt switch having an arm, the belt switch being mounted on the surface of the frame and operable to stop operation of the motor whenever a belt malfunction occurs, wherein the belt switch, the main switch and the motor frame are provided as an integral unit and the connections between the belt switch and the main switch are pre-wired. ### Claim 15 A clothes dryer comprising: a dryer frame, a drum mounted on the dryer frame, a belt connected to the dryer frame, and a motor mounted on the dryer frame and connected to the belt to rotate the belt and drum, the motor including: motor frame mounted on the dryer frame and having an outwardly facing surface, and a belt break switch mounted on the surface of the motor frame adjacent the belt and having an arm disposed to sense belt breakage, the switch operable to inhibit power to the motor whenever the dryer belt breaks, a main switch, wherein the break switch, the main switch and the motor frame are provided as an integral unit with the connections between the break switch and the main switch being pre-wired. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The dryer motor of claim 15 wherein the break switch cuts power to the motor in response to movement of the arm. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The dryer motor of claim 16 wherein the arm is disposed to be moved by an idler arm of the dryer frame, the idler arm moving in response to belt breakage.