Apparatus for drying articles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016282045-A1
Application number	US-201514665238-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 23, 2015
Priority date	Mar 23, 2015
Publication date	Sep 29, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A laundry treating applicator for drying laundry with a radio frequency (RF) applicator having a baffle on a drum rotatable on a non-vertical axis, an anode element in the baffle and a cathode element spaced from the anode element, wherein energization of the RF generator sends electromagnetic radiation through the applicator via the anode element and cathode element to form a field of electromagnetic radiation (e-field) in the radio frequency spectrum to dielectrically heat liquid within laundry disposed within the e-field.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A treating apparatus for drying articles according to a predetermined cycle of operation, comprising:
a cylindrical drum having a wall; a baffle on the wall comprising an anode element; a cathode element about the wall circumferentially spaced from the anode element along the circumference of the wall; a capacitive coupling between the anode element and the cathode element; and a radio frequency (RF) generator coupled to the anode element and to the cathode element and selectively energizable to generate electromagnetic radiation in the radio frequency spectrum; wherein energization of the RF generator sends electromagnetic radiation through the apparatus via the capacitive coupling to form a field of electromagnetic radiation (e-field) in the radio frequency spectrum to dielectrically heat liquid within articles disposed within the e-field.

2 . The treating apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wall of the drum supports the laundry.

3 . The treating apparatus of claim 1 wherein the drum is rotatable about a non-vertical axis.

4 . The treating apparatus of claim 3 wherein at least one of the anode element or cathode element extends at least a portion of a length parallel to the non-vertical axis.

5 . The treating apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the cathode element is spaced by a radial length, with respect to the non-vertical axis, from the anode element.

6 . The treating apparatus of claim 1 wherein the RF generator is at least one of intermittently or continuously energizable.

7 . The treating apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one cathode element is positioned on each adjacent side of the anode element, and the capacitive coupling is between the anode element and each cathode element.

8 . The treating apparatus of claim 7 further comprising two anode elements and wherein the cathode elements and the anode elements are radially arranged in an alternating configuration.

9 . The treating apparatus of claim 1 comprising a single cathode element that extends radially about a majority of the wall.

10 . The treating apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cathode element is disposed on an outer surface of the wall.

11 . The treating apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cathode element is integrated within the wall.

12 . The treating apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a second capacitive coupling between the RF generator and the cathode element.

13 . The treating apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wall comprises a dielectric material.

14 . A treating apparatus for drying articles according to a predetermined cycle of operation, comprising:
a rotatable cylindrical drum; an anode element and a first cathode element, wherein the anode element and cathode element are angularly spaced relative to a rotational axis of the drum; and a radio frequency (RF) generator coupled to the anode element and to the first cathode element and selectively energizable to generate electromagnetic radiation in the radio frequency spectrum; wherein at least one of the anode element and the first cathode element rotate with the drum.

15 . The treating apparatus of claim 14 wherein the drum further comprises an inner surface and an outer surface, and at least one of the anode element or first cathode element is supported by the inner surface of the drum.

16 . The treating apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a baffle supported by the inner surface of the drum, and the anode element is within the baffle.

17 . The treating apparatus of claim 15 wherein the anode element and the first cathode element are circumferentially spaced relative to the drum such that a portion of the articles can be laterally positioned on the inner surface of the drum between the anode element and cathode element.

18 . The treating apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a second cathode element circumferentially spaced from the anode element, relative to the drum, wherein the anode element is circumferentially spaced between the first and second cathode elements such that a portion of the articles can be laterally positioned on the inner surface of the drum between the anode element and cathode elements.

19 . The treating apparatus of claim 18 wherein the anode element is positioned at the lowest horizontal position of the drum and the first and second cathode elements are circumferentially spaced such that a substantial portion of the articles are laterally positioned between the first and second cathode elements.

20 . A method for drying laundry with a radio frequency (RF) generator connected to an applicator and a rotatable cylindrical drum having a fixed anode element and a fixed cathode element, and wherein the anode element and cathode element are spaced relative to the drum, the method comprising:
rotationally positioning the drum such that laundry is positioned between the anode element and cathode element; energizing the RF applicator for a time period to generate a field of electromagnetic radiation (e-field) within the radio frequency spectrum between the anode element and the cathode element such that liquid in laundry residing within the e-field will be dielectrically heated to effect a drying of the laundry during the time period; rotating the drum to redistribute laundry; and repeating the positioning the drum and energizing the RF applicator.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Herman Mark L
• Peterman Garry L

Classifications

• D06F37/06

  Ribs, lifters, or rubbing means forming part of the receptacle · CPC title

• F26B3/347 Primary

  Electromagnetic heating, e.g. induction heating or heating using microwave energy · CPC title

• D06F58/04

  Details  (controlling or regulating devices D06F34/00) · CPC title

• D06F58/26

  Heating arrangements, e.g. gas heating equipment (D06F58/18 takes precedence) · CPC title

• D06F58/266 Primary

  Microwave heating equipment · CPC title