Dryer appliances and methods of operation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10494758-B2
Application number	US-201715815808-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 17, 2017
Priority date	Nov 17, 2017
Publication date	Dec 3, 2019
Grant date	Dec 3, 2019

Abstract

Dryer appliances, including methods of operation, are provided herein. The dryer appliance may include a cabinet, a drum, a ventilation assembly, an air handler, and a controller. The drum may be rotatably mounted within the cabinet. The drum may define a drying chamber. A ventilation assembly may be attached to the drying chamber. The ventilation assembly may include a conduit defining an exhaust passage in fluid communication with the drying chamber. The conduit may extend from an inlet at the drying chamber to an outlet defined through the cabinet. The air handler may be attached to the conduit in fluid communication with the drying chamber to draw air through the exhaust passage. The controller may be in operable communication with the air handler and the drum, and may be configured to initiate a dry cycle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of operating a dryer appliance comprising a cabinet, a drum defining a drying chamber within the cabinet, a ventilation assembly in fluid communication with the drying chamber, and an air handler mounted along the ventilation assembly, the method comprising:
directing rotation of the drum within the cabinet;
motivating a first airflow of internal air from the drying chamber to an outlet defined through the cabinet;
halting rotation of the drum; and
motivating a second airflow of internal air from the drying chamber to the outlet for a set time period in response to the halting rotation of the drum,
wherein motivating the first airflow comprises directing rotation of the air handler to draw the first airflow through the air handler between the drying chamber and the outlet, and wherein motivating the second airflow comprises directing rotation of the air handler to draw the second airflow through the air handler between the drying chamber and the outlet.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining the set time period as a function of a duct length downstream from the outlet over a speed setting of the second airflow.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the set time period is greater than or equal to ten seconds.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first airflow has an air speed setting that is greater than or equal to an air speed setting of the second airflow.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second airflow is motivated at a predetermined speed setting.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a velocity of the second airflow prior to expiration of the set time period.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the determining the velocity of the second airflow comprises
receiving a torque signal from an air handler, and
calculating the velocity of the second airflow based on the received torque signal.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the determining the velocity of the second airflow comprises
receiving an air velocity signal from a flow sensor positioned within the ventilation assembly, and
calculating the velocity of the second airflow based on the received air velocity signal.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising
determining whether a flow restriction is present downstream from the drying chamber; and
increasing an air velocity of the second airflow above an air velocity of the first airflow in response to determining the flow restriction is present.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising
determining whether a minimum air velocity is met through the ventilation assembly prior to the halting rotation of the drum; and
increasing a velocity of the second airflow above a velocity of the first airflow in response to determining the minimum air velocity is not met.

11. A dryer appliance, comprising:
a cabinet;
a drum rotatably mounted within the cabinet, the drum defining a drying chamber;
a ventilation assembly attached to the drying chamber, the ventilation assembly comprising a conduit defining an exhaust passage in fluid communication with the drying chamber, the conduit extending from an inlet at the drying chamber to an outlet defined through the cabinet;
an air handler attached to the conduit in fluid communication with the drying chamber to draw air through the exhaust passage; and
a controller in operable communication with the air handler and the drum, the controller being configured to initiate a dry cycle, the dry cycle comprising
directing rotation of the drum within the cabinet,
motivating a first airflow of internal air from the drying chamber to the outlet,
halting rotation of the drum, and
motivating a second airflow of internal air from the drying chamber to the outlet for a set time period in response to the halting rotation of the drum,

wherein motivating the first airflow comprises directing rotation of the air handler to draw the first airflow through the air handler between the drying chamber and the outlet, and wherein motivating the second airflow comprises directing rotation of the air handler to draw the second airflow through the air handler between the drying chamber and the outlet.

12. The dryer appliance of claim 11 , wherein the dry cycle further comprises
determining the set time period as a function of a duct length downstream from the outlet over a speed setting of the second airflow.

13. The dryer appliance of claim 11 , wherein the set time period is greater than or equal to ten seconds.

14. The dryer appliance of claim 11 , wherein the first airflow has an air speed setting that is greater than or equal to an air speed setting of the second airflow.

15. The dryer appliance of claim 11 , wherein the second airflow is motivated at a predetermined speed setting of the air handler.

16. The dryer appliance of claim 11 , wherein the dry cycle further comprises determining a velocity of the second airflow prior to expiration of the set time period.

17. The dryer appliance of claim 16 , wherein the determining the velocity of the second airflow comprises
receiving a torque signal from an air handler, and
calculating the velocity of the second airflow based on the received torque signal.

18. The dryer appliance of claim 16 , further comprising a flow sensor positioned within the exhaust passage, wherein the determining the velocity of the second airflow comprises
receiving an air velocity signal from the flow sensor, and
calculating the velocity of the second airflow based on the received air velocity signal.

19. The dryer appliance of claim 11 , wherein the dry cycle further comprises
determining whether a flow restriction is present downstream within the exhaust passage, and
increasing an air velocity of the second airflow above an air velocity of the first airflow in response to determining the flow restriction is present.

20. The dryer appliance of claim 11 , wherein the dry cycle further comprises
determining whether a minimum air velocity is met through the exhaust passage prior to the halting rotation of the drum, and
increasing a velocity of the second airflow above a velocity of the first airflow in response to determining the minimum air velocity is not met.

Assignees

• Haier Us Appliance Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Prajescu Ionelia Silvia

Classifications

• D06F2105/46

  Drum speed; Actuation of motors, e.g. starting or interrupting · CPC title

• D06F2105/28

  Electric heating · CPC title

• D06F2105/24

  Flow or velocity · CPC title

• D06F2103/44

  Current or voltage · CPC title

• D06F2103/36

  Flow or velocity · CPC title