Systems and methods for fan operation detection

Abstract

In a washing machine appliance, a vent line extends between the wash tub and the aperture on the cabinet. The vent line includes a fan, a humidity sensor, and a controller. The controller is configured to activate the fan during a drying cycle in order to urge air from the wash tub into the vent line and out of the aperture in the cabinet. Compare, across a set interval of time, a difference in a humidity measurement from the humidity sensor to a reference humidity value. Detect a fault in the drying cycle in response to the difference in humidity exceeding the reference humidity at least a set number of times.

1 . A washing machine appliance comprising:
 a cabinet;   a wash tub positioned within the cabinet;   a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub and accessible through an opening in the cabinet;   a door pivotably mounted to the cabinet whereby the door is pivotable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the door permits access to the wash basket through the opening when in the open position, and wherein an aperture in the cabinet is in fluid communication with an ambient environment external to the cabinet when the door is in the closed position;   a vent line extending between the wash tub and the aperture on the cabinet, the vent line comprising a fan, a humidity sensor disposed in the vent line, and a controller, the controller configured to
 activate the fan during a drying cycle in order to urge air from the wash tub into the vent line and out of the aperture in the cabinet, 
 compare, across a set interval of time, a difference in a humidity measurement from the humidity sensor to a reference humidity value, and 
 detect a fault in the fan, during the drying cycle, in response to the difference in humidity exceeding the reference humidity at least a predetermined number of times. 
   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to notify a user in response to the detection of the fault in the drying cycle. 
     
     
         3 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined interval of time for comparing the difference in humidity is no less than one minute and no greater than sixty minutes. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the reference humidity value for comparing the difference in humidity is no less than one percent humidity and no greater than ten percent humidity. 
     
     
         5 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined number of times before detecting the fault in the drying cycle is at least two times. 
     
     
         6 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the fault in the drying cycle comprises the fan is not activating properly. 
     
     
         7 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 6 , wherein the controller is further configured to notify a user the fan is not activating properly. 
     
     
         8 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to terminate the drying cycle in response to a user input after the notification. 
     
     
         9 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to compare the difference in the original humidity within the washing machine appliance to the reference humidity value immediately after initiation of the drying cycle, the controller further configured to:
 remeasure the humidity within the washing machine appliance during drying cycle;   compare the remeasured humidity within the washing machine appliance to the original humidity within the washing machine appliance; and   detect the fault in the drying cycle when the difference in the remeasured humidity and the original humidity within the washing machine appliance is greater than the reference humidity value at least two times.   
     
     
         10 . A method of operating a drying cycle in a washing machine appliance, the washing machine appliance comprising a cabinet, a wash tub positioned within the cabinet, a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub and accessible through an opening in the cabinet, a door pivotably mounted to the cabinet whereby the door is pivotable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the door permits access to the wash basket through the opening when in the open position, and wherein an aperture in the cabinet is in fluid communication with an ambient environment external to the cabinet when the door is in the closed position, a vent line extending between the wash tub and the aperture on the cabinet, the vent line comprising a fan, a humidity sensor, and a controller, the method comprising:
 activating the fan during a drying cycle in order to urge air from the wash tub into the vent line and out of the aperture in the cabinet;   comparing, across a set interval of time, a difference in a humidity measurement from the humidity sensor to a reference humidity value, and   detecting a fault in the fan, during the drying cycle, in response to the difference in humidity exceeding the reference humidity at least a set number of times.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising notifying a user in response to the detection of the fault in the drying cycle. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the predetermined interval of time for comparing the difference in humidity is no less than one percent humidity and no greater than ten percent humidity. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the reference humidity value for comparing the difference in humidity is no less than one percent humidity and no greater than ten percent humidity. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the predetermined number of times before detecting the fault in the drying cycle is at least two times. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the fault in the drying cycle comprises the fan is not activating properly. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising notifying a user the fan is not activating properly. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises terminating, by the controller, the drying cycle in response to a user input after the notification. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to compare the difference in the original humidity within the washing machine appliance to the reference humidity value immediately after initiation of the drying cycle, the method further comprising:
 measuring a new humidity within the washing machine appliance during drying cycle;   comparing the new humidity within the washing machine appliance to the original humidity within the washing machine appliance; and   detecting the fault in the drying cycle when the difference in the remeasured humidity and the original humidity within the washing machine appliance is greater than the reference humidity value at least two times.