Three-dimensional steam generating system for performing a steam cycle within a laundry appliance

Abstract

A laundry appliance includes a blower that delivers process air through an airflow path. A rotating drum defines a processing chamber. The processing chamber is part of the airflow path. A steam generating system disposes steam into the processing chamber. A plurality of fluid nozzles direct the steam into the processing chamber according to an operating pattern. The plurality of fluid nozzles include a first nozzle that is positioned within an upper portion of the processing chamber and a second nozzle that is positioned in a lower portion of the processing chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating a steam cycle of an appliance, the method comprising:
 activating a processing cycle;   estimating a load size of articles being processed within a processing chamber;   initiating a steam function that is operated according to the load size;   generating steam that is disposed within the processing chamber;   monitoring an amount of steam that is dispensed within the processing chamber;   maintaining the amount of steam within the processing chamber to be within a predetermined range that is at least partially based upon the load size; and   completing the processing cycle.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the load size is estimated using temperature probes that are positioned upstream and downstream of the processing chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein an airflow path directs process air through the processing chamber, and wherein the temperature probes are positioned within the airflow path. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the steam has a temperature that is similar to an air temperature of the process air moving into the processing chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of steam is monitored using a conductivity sensor that is in communication with the processing chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the steam is dispensed using a plurality of fluid nozzles that direct the steam into the processing chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of fluid nozzles are positioned within a front portion of the processing chamber and within a rear portion of the processing chamber to produce a three-dimensional pattern of the steam within the processing chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein a first fluid nozzle of the plurality of fluid nozzles directs the steam in a downward direction and toward the rear portion of the processing chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein a second fluid nozzle of the plurality of fluid nozzles directs the steam in an upward direction and toward the front portion of the processing chamber. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the steam is delivered through the plurality of fluid nozzles according to an operating pattern. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the operating pattern includes a pattern of activations and deactivations of each fluid nozzle of the plurality of fluid nozzles. 
     
     
         12 . A method of operating a steam cycle of an appliance, the method comprising:
 estimating a load size of articles being processed within a processing chamber;   initiating a steam function that is operated according to the load size;   dispensing steam into the processing chamber in an upward direction using a first fluid nozzle and in a downward direction using a second fluid nozzle to produce a three-dimensional pattern of the steam;   monitoring the conductivity of the processing chamber to estimate an amount of steam that is dispensed within the processing chamber; and   maintaining the amount of steam within the processing chamber to be within a predetermined range that is at least partially based upon the load size.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the steam has a temperature that is similar to an air temperature of process air delivered into the processing chamber during a processing cycle. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first fluid nozzle is positioned within a front portion of the processing chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the second fluid nozzle is positioned within a rear portion of the processing chamber. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the steam is delivered through the first fluid nozzle and the second fluid nozzle according to an operating pattern that includes a pattern of activations and deactivations of the first fluid nozzle and the second fluid nozzle. 
     
     
         17 . A method of operating a steam cycle of an appliance, the method comprising:
 activating a processing cycle having a steam function;   directing process air through a processing chamber;   estimating a load size of articles being processed within the processing chamber;   initiating a steam function that is operated according to the load size;   generating steam having a temperature similar to that of an air temperature of the process air;   dispensing a three-dimensional pattern of the steam into the articles via a plurality of fluid nozzles;   monitoring the conductivity of the processing chamber to estimate an amount of steam that is dispensed within the processing chamber;   maintaining the amount of steam within the processing chamber to be within a predetermined range that is at least partially based upon the load size; and   completing the processing cycle.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of fluid nozzles are positioned within a front portion of the processing chamber and within a rear portion of the processing chamber to produce the three-dimensional pattern of the steam within the processing chamber. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the steam is delivered through the plurality of fluid nozzles according to an operating pattern. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the operating pattern includes a pattern of activations and deactivations of each fluid nozzle of the plurality of fluid nozzles.