Peace of mind dryer

Abstract

A vent system for a dryer, may include an exhaust air conduit configured to provide an airstream to a dryer; a sensor within the conduit and configured to measure the airstream; and a controller configured to receive sensor data from the sensor and determine an airflow. A method for detecting a variation in airflow through a vent of a dryer may include receiving sensor data from at least one sensor in an air conduit of a clothes dryer; determining an estimated airflow based on the sensor data; comparing the estimated airflow to a predetermined expected airflow; and adjusting the estimated airflow in response to the estimated airflow not being within a predefined margin of the predetermined expected airflow.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vent system for a dryer, comprising:
 an exhaust air conduit configured to provide an airstream to a dryer;   a sensor within the conduit and configured to measure the airstream; and   a controller configured to receive sensor data from the sensor and determine an airflow.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a velocity sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a hot wire anemometer configured to detect a temperature of a wire heated by a dryer heater. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the temperature corresponds to an amount of heat of the airflow. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising a damper arranged in the air conduit and configured to adjust the airflow within the conduit. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the controller is further configured to adjust the damper based on the temperature of the wire to adjust the airflow. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to adjust the position of the damper until a predefined temperature is exceeded. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to adjust the position of the damper until a predefined time is exceeded. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a whistle sensor configured to detect sounds outside of human audible range to provide a continuous airflow reading based on the detected sounds. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a camera sensor configured to monitor particles within a dryer vent receiving the airstream from the conduit. 
     
     
         12 . A method for detecting a variation in airflow through a vent of a dryer, the method comprising:
 receiving sensor data from at least one sensor in an air conduit of a clothes dryer;   determining an estimated airflow based on the sensor data;   comparing the estimated airflow to a predetermined expected airflow; and   adjusting the estimated airflow in response to the estimated airflow not being within a predefined margin of the predetermined expected airflow.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the sensor is a hot wire anemometer configured to detect a temperature of a wire heated by a dryer heater. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the temperature corresponds to an amount of heat of the estimated airflow and the estimated airflow is determined based on the temperature. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the adjusting of the estimated airflow includes instructing an adjustment of a damper arranged in the air conduit. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the adjusting of the estimated airflow includes instructing an adjustment of the damper until a predefined temperature is exceeded. 
     
     
         18 . A vent system for a dryer, comprising:
 an exhaust air conduit configured to provide an airstream to a dryer;   a sensor within the conduit and configured to measure the airstream, wherein the sensor is a whistle sensor configured to detect sounds within the conduit outside of human audible range to provide a continuous airflow reading based on the detected sounds; and   a controller configured to receive sensor data from the whistle sensor indicative of airflow of the airstream.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising a damper arranged in the air conduit and configured to adjust the airflow within the conduit. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the controller is further configured to adjust the damper based on the sensor data.