Patent ID: 6700102
Filing Date: 2004-03-02
Classification: D06F

Abstract:
A control circuit for controlling the operation of a clothes dryer having a dryer drum, a drum air inlet and a drum air outlet permitting an air stream to flow into and out of the dryer drum, a heater for heating the air stream before the air stream passes into the dryer drum, and a control circuit for controlling energization of the heater during an automatic drying cycle, the control circuit comprising:a supply line and a neutral line adapted for connection to a 120 volt power supply source; a series connection across the supply line and neutral line of a low output temperature thermostat, a high output temperature thermostat and the heater, the low output temperature thermostat opening at a first predetermined temperature and the high output temperature thermostat opening at a second predetermined temperature higher than the first predetermined temperature thereby controlling energization of the heater; a timer motor connected between the supply line and a first point located between the high output temperature thermostat and the heater, the timer motor advancing to end the automatic drying cycle during periods when either one of the low output temperature thermostat and high output temperature thermostat is open; an ambient thermostat for sensing ambient temperature and being electrically connected in parallel with the low output thermostat and in series with the supply line and a second point between the low output temperature thermostat and the high output temperature thermostat, the ambient thermostat providing a bypass circuit around the low temperature thermostat when a predetermined ambient temperature is reached; and, wherein, the low output temperature thermostat opens when the temperature of the air stream exiting the drum reaches the first predetermined temperature to control cycling on and off of the heater and to control the advancement of the timer motor, and wherein control cycling on and off of the heater and control of advancement of the timer motor in response to the high output temperature thermostat opening at the second predetermined temperature occurs when the first outlet thermostat is bypassed by the ambient thermostat.