Dryer appliance and a method for operating the same

Abstract

The present subject matter provides a dryer appliance and a method for operating a dryer appliance. The method includes monitoring a first temperature sensor of the dryer appliance in order to determine a number of cycles of the first temperature sensor. If the number of cycles of the heating element exceeds a threshold number, a temperature set point of a second temperature sensor of the dryer appliance is reduced. The method can assist with reducing or avoiding excessive cycling of the first temperature sensor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for operating a dryer appliance, comprising:
 initiating a drying cycle of the dryer appliance in order to dry articles within a drum of the dryer appliance;   monitoring a first temperature sensor of the dryer appliance in order to determine a number of cycles of the first temperature sensor during the drying cycle of the dryer appliance;   reducing a temperature set point of a second temperature sensor of the dryer appliance if the number of cycles of the first temperature sensor exceeds a threshold number during said step of monitoring.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first temperature sensor comprises a bimetallic switch. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second temperature sensor comprises a thermistor. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the threshold number is greater than fifteen. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the threshold number is about twenty. 
     
     
         6 . A dryer appliance, comprising:
 a cabinet;   a drum rotatably mounted within the cabinet, the drum defining a chamber for receipt of articles for drying;   a motor configured for selectively rotating the drum within the cabinet;   a heating assembly configured for directing a flow of heated fluid into the chamber of the drum, the heating assembly comprising
 a housing; 
 a heating element disposed within the housing; 
 a duct extending between the housing of the heating assembly and the drum, the duct having an outlet positioned at the chamber of the drum; 
 a first temperature sensor positioned at the housing; and 
 a second temperature sensor positioned at the outlet of the duct; 
   a controller in communication with the motor, the heating element and the first and second temperature sensors, the controller configured for setting a temperature set point of the second temperature sensor to a first temperature set point;
 determining if an operating condition of the dryer appliance is a restricted condition; 
 adjusting the temperature set point of the second temperature sensor to a second temperature set point if the operating condition is the restricted condition at said step of determining; 
 monitoring the first temperature sensor in order to determine a number of cycles of the first temperature sensor; and 
 changing the temperature set point of the second temperature sensor to a third temperature set point if the number of cycles of the first temperature sensor exceeds a threshold number during said step of monitoring. 
   
     
     
         7 . The appliance of  claim 6 , wherein the first temperature sensor comprises a bimetallic switch. 
     
     
         8 . The appliance of  claim 6 , wherein the second temperature sensor comprises a thermistor. 
     
     
         9 . The appliance of  claim 6 , wherein the first temperature set point is greater than the second temperature set point. 
     
     
         10 . The appliance of  claim 9 , wherein the second temperature set point is greater than the third temperature set point. 
     
     
         11 . The appliance of  claim 6 , wherein the third temperature set point is selected to avoid cycling the first temperature sensor after said step of changing. 
     
     
         12 . The appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the third temperature set point is less than about three hundred degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         13 . The appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the third temperature set point is about two hundred and forty degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         14 . The appliance of  claim 6 , wherein the threshold number is greater than fifteen. 
     
     
         15 . The appliance of  claim 14 , wherein the threshold number is about twenty. 
     
     
         16 . The appliance of  claim 6 , wherein said step of determining comprises establishing a first derivative of temperature measurements from the second temperature sensor, the restricted condition corresponding to the condition of the dryer appliance when the first derivative of temperature measurements from the second temperature sensor exceeds a threshold value. 
     
     
         17 . A method for operating a dryer appliance, comprising:
 setting a temperature set point of a thermistor of the dryer appliance to a first temperature set point;   determining if an operating condition of the dryer appliance is a restricted condition;   adjusting the temperature set point of the thermistor to a second temperature set point if the operating condition is the restricted condition at said step of determining;   monitoring a thermostat of the dryer appliance in order to determine a number of cycles of the thermostat; and   changing the temperature set point of the thermistor to a third temperature set point if the number of cycles of the thermostat exceeds a threshold number during said step of monitoring.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the threshold number is greater than fifteen. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the third temperature set point is selected to avoid cycling the thermostat after said step of changing. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first temperature set point is greater than the second temperature set point, and the second temperature set point is greater than the third temperature set point.