Listed are some of this invention's unique features for producing a healthier home and a safer clothes dryer vent within the same housing system, which may be installed within a typical wall system or as a free-standing unit in a laundry room.

Included are two airflow receiving ports that accepts airflow from a clothes dryer or optionally from a house's interior rooms and two airflow exhaust ports that discharge the same airflow into an exhaust pipe to the outside or optionally into the building interior as recycled airflow.

A drainage device removes water derived from condensate which forms in the exhaust pipe and otherwise flows back into the housing.

Two (2) receiving ports and the two (2) exiting ports combine to provide four (4) combinations of airflow management.

The choice of which of the four (4) airflow ports are activated for airflow passage is subject to a selection from a control system which contains switches for the desired airflow management thru the housing.

Additionally, the control system contains monitors and sensors to indicate unsafe temperatures, air pressure changes or filter blockage within the housing.

A shutdown mechanism within the control system stops the airflow exhaust fan and stops the clothes dryer to provide an additional measure of safety.

Included in the invention is a multi-filter filtration system that includes filters that block lint particulate from a clothes dryer and block indoor pollutants comprising pre-filters, True HEPA filters, with activated carbon filters and air cleaners to meet EPA Indoor Air Quality Standards and MERV Ratings.

A multi-speed airflow exhaust fan moves airflow in thru the receiving ports, thru the multi-filters and out thru the exiting ports. Additionally, within the housing, access openings with removable windows provide internal inspections and accessibility.

In conclusion the elements of this invention combine to improve the efficiency and safety of a clothes dryer's exhaust system and improve the indoor air quality of a home or commercial building.

Listed are some of this invention's unique features for producing a healthier home and a safer clothes dryer vent within the same housing system, which may be installed within a typical wall system or as a free-standing unit in a laundry room.

Included are two airflow receiving ports that accepts airflow from a clothes dryer or optionally from a house's interior rooms and two airflow exhaust ports that discharge the same airflow into an exhaust pipe to the outside or optionally into the building interior as recycled airflow.

A drainage device removes water derived from condensate which forms in the exhaust pipe and otherwise flows back into the housing.

Two (2) receiving ports and the two (2) exiting ports combine to provide four (4) combinations of airflow management.

The choice of which of the four (4) airflow ports are activated for airflow passage is subject to a selection from a control system which contains switches for the desired airflow management thru the housing.

Additionally, the control system contains monitors and sensors to indicate unsafe temperatures, air pressure changes or filter blockage within the housing.

A shutdown mechanism within the control system stops the airflow exhaust fan and stops the clothes dryer to provide an additional measure of safety.

Included in the invention is a multi-filter filtration system that includes filters that block lint particulate from a clothes dryer and block indoor pollutants comprising pre-filters, True HEPA filters, with activated carbon filters and air cleaners to meet EPA Indoor Air Quality Standards and MERV Ratings.

A multi-speed airflow exhaust fan moves airflow in thru the receiving ports, thru the multi-filters and out thru the exiting ports. Additionally, within the housing, access openings with removable windows provide internal inspections and accessibility.

In conclusion the elements of this invention combine to improve the efficiency and safety of a clothes dryer's exhaust system and improve the indoor air quality of a home or commercial building.

A laundry treatment apparatus includes a cabinet having an upper surface, the upper surface being configured to receive an object thereon, a drawer adapted to be drawn from the cabinet, a drum disposed in the drawer and defining a space for receiving laundry, a driving unit configured to rotate the drum, a control unit configured to control the driving unit, and a connector unit configured to impact an ability of the control unit to control operation of the driving unit based on whether or not the object is placed on the upper surface of the cabinet by preventing the control unit from controlling operation of the driving unit based on the object being absent from the upper surface of the cabinet and by allowing the control unit to control operation of the driving unit based on the object being placed on the upper surface of the cabinet.

A washing machine includes: a tub; a drum of metal material configured to be rotated in the tub; an induction heater configured to be fixed to the tub in a state of being separated from the drum, and to heat the drum; a first temperature sensor configured to have a tube of metal material heated by the induction heater and a thermistor disposed in the tube, at least a part of the tube being exposed between the tub and the drum; a second temperature sensor configured to be disposed in a position further away than the first temperature sensor from the induction heater in a circumferential direction, and detect a temperature of air between the tub and the drum; and a controller configured to control the induction heater based on a first detection value of the first temperature sensor and a second detection value of the second temperature sensor.

A washing machine includes: a tub; a drum of metal material configured to be rotated in the tub; an induction heater configured to be fixed to the tub in a state of being separated from the drum, and to heat the drum; a first temperature sensor configured to have a tube of metal material heated by the induction heater and a thermistor disposed in the tube, at least a part of the tube being exposed between the tub and the drum; a second temperature sensor configured to be disposed in a position further away than the first temperature sensor from the induction heater in a circumferential direction, and detect a temperature of air between the tub and the drum; and a controller configured to control the induction heater based on a first detection value of the first temperature sensor and a second detection value of the second temperature sensor.

A dryer appliance is provided, including a cabinet, a drum, an outlet assembly, an exhaust sensor, and a fluid injector. The drum may be mounted within the cabinet and define a drying chamber. The outlet assembly may be attached to the drying chamber and 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. The conduit may further define an access port along the exhaust passage between the inlet and the outlet. The exhaust sensor may be disposed in communication with the exhaust passage. The fluid injector may be attached to the conduit between the inlet and the outlet, and be directed at the access port.

A system in which the operation of an electric motor is controlled by electronically controlled switches. The system includes the motor having a run winding and a start winding, a heating component, and a motor control subsystem. A control unit closes a first switch to energize the run winding, closes a second switch to energize the start winding, determines based on an amplitude and a lag time of a current flowing through the motor whether the motor has started and is running normally, and if so, opens the second switch to de-energize the start winding and closes a third switch to activate the heating component. The control unit determines whether the motor has started and is running normally by comparing the real time amplitude and lag time of the current to a plurality of stored amplitudes and lag times associated with different operating conditions.

A washing machine includes: a tub; a drum of metal material configured to be rotated in the tub; an induction heater configured to be fixed to the tub in a state of being separated from the drum, and to heat the drum; a first temperature sensor configured to have a tube of metal material heated by the induction heater and a thermistor disposed in the tube, at least a part of the tube being exposed between the tub and the drum; a second temperature sensor configured to be disposed in a position further away than the first temperature sensor from the induction heater in a circumferential direction, and detect a temperature of air between the tub and the drum; and a controller configured to control the induction heater based on a first detection value of the first temperature sensor and a second detection value of the second temperature sensor.

A washing machine includes: a tub; a drum of metal material configured to be rotated in the tub; an induction heater configured to be fixed to the tub in a state of being separated from the drum, and to heat the drum; a first temperature sensor configured to have a tube of metal material heated by the induction heater and a thermistor disposed in the tube, at least a part of the tube being exposed between the tub and the drum; a second temperature sensor configured to be disposed in a position further away than the first temperature sensor from the induction heater in a circumferential direction, and detect a temperature of air between the tub and the drum; and a controller configured to control the induction heater based on a first detection value of the first temperature sensor and a second detection value of the second temperature sensor.

A dryer appliance that includes a fire extinguishing system is provided. In one aspect, the dryer appliance includes a drum rotatably mounted within a cabinet. The drum defines a chamber for receipt of articles for drying. The dryer appliance includes a water inlet valve in fluid communication with a steam nozzle operable to deliver water into the chamber to form mist or steam. The dryer appliance also includes an extinguisher nozzle in fluid communication with the chamber of the drum and with the water inlet valve. Upon detection of a fire, water is provided to the extinguisher nozzle and the extinguisher nozzle directs a stream of water into the chamber to extinguish the detected fire.