John E Gerling

US Patent:

6393725, May 28, 2002

Filed:

Jun 13, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/593263

Inventors:

Richard D. Smith - Palo Alto CA
John F. Gerling - Modesto CA
Stephen D. Schultz - Modesto CA

Assignee:

Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

F26B 334

US Classification:

34260, 34261, 34265, 34499, 34601, 34607, 34604, 219756, 219757, 219681

Abstract:

Compact microwave clothes dryer and method in which the dryer is small enough to be placed on a countertop, and air is circulated past microwave generator and power supply components to the drying chamber to transfer heat from the components to clothes in the chamber to supplement the microwave drying.

US Patent:

6401357, Jun 11, 2002

Filed:

Jun 13, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/593720

Inventors:

Richard D. Smith - Palo Alto CA
John F. Gerling - Modesto CA
Stephen D. Schultz - Modesto CA

Assignee:

Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

F26B 334

US Classification:

34260, 219707

Abstract:

End of cycle detector and method for a microwave clothes dryer. The temperature of fabric in the dryer is monitored, an increase in the monitored temperature is detected when substantially all moisture has been removed from the fabric, and operation of the dryer is controlled in response to the increase in temperature.

US Patent:

6401362, Jun 11, 2002

Filed:

Jun 5, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/588272

Inventors:

Stephen D. Schultz - Modesto CA
John F. Gerling - Modesto CA

Assignee:

Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

F26B 300

US Classification:

34499, 34599, 34602

Abstract:

Tumble drying apparatus and method in which fabric articles are placed in a horizontally disposed cylindrical basket with a stringer which extends across the basket along an arcuate path that passes near the axis, and the basket is rotated about its axis with the stringer causing the fabric articles to tumble through the central portion of the basket in a loosely packed manner as they fall from one side of the basket toward the other.

US Patent:

47119837, Dec 8, 1987

Filed:

Jul 7, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/882223

Inventors:

John E. Gerling - Modesto CA

International Classification:

H05B 670

US Classification:

219 1055A

Abstract:

System and method for applying microwave power of substantially constant frequency and variable power level to a work load. A microwave power source having an operating frequency which varies with power level is operated at a substantially constant power level and frequency. Power from the source is applied to a dummy load, and a portion of the power is diverted away from the dummy load to the work load to vary the amount of power applied to the work load without changing the power level or frequency at which the source is operated.

US Patent:

54830451, Jan 9, 1996

Filed:

Jun 9, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/257067

Inventors:

John E. Gerling - Medford OR

Assignee:

Electric Power Research Institute - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

H05B 668

US Classification:

219722

Abstract:

System and method for interrupting the delivery of microwave power to a microwave cavity when a door to the cavity is opened and an interlock switch fails to operate. A switch actuated by movement of the door applies an overload current to an overload protector in the filament circuit of the generator which supplies microwave power to the cavity, thereby interrupting the filament current and shutting down the generator.

US Patent:

46894594, Aug 25, 1987

Filed:

Sep 9, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/774058

Inventors:

John E. Gerling - Modesto CA

International Classification:

H05B 670

US Classification:

219 1055A

Abstract:

Apparatus and method for applying microwave energy to a material in a resonant cavity. The Q of the cavity is reduced to broaden the bandwidth of the system by passing a portion of the microwave energy from the cavity through an iris plate to a dummy load positioned outside the cavity. Tuning stubs are provided to tune the cavity to resonance.

US Patent:

47148110, Dec 22, 1987

Filed:

Jul 18, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/888024

Inventors:

John E. Gerling - Modesto CA
Ji T. Ren - Chengdu, CN

Assignee:

Jova Enterprises, Inc. - Modesto CA

International Classification:

H05B 674

US Classification:

219 1055F

Abstract:

Microwave oven and method in which the microwave energy pattern and the load are moved relative to each other, and the rate of movement is varied to control the amount of heating in different portions of the load. In some embodiments, a rotator causes the microwave energy pattern to be modulated within the oven cavity. The microwave power at different points in the oven cavity is measured with the rotator in different angular positions, and the angular velocity of the rotator is varied so that the rotator spends more time in angular positions where more heating is required. In other embodiments, the load is rotated, and the angular velocity of the load is varied so that the load spends more time in angular positions where additional heating is required.

US Patent:

51664844, Nov 24, 1992

Filed:

Oct 5, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/593198

Inventors:

Monroe Young - Greensboro NC
John F. Gerling - Modesto CA
John E. Gerling - Modesto CA

Assignee:

ASTeX/Gerling Laboratories, Inc. - Modesto CA

International Classification:

H05B 668
H05B 678

US Classification:

219 1055A

Abstract:

System and method for processing extruded sponge rubber products and the like by simultaneously heating the products with microwave energy and impinging jets of high velocity hot air on the products. In one disclosed embodiment, the extruded sponge rubber parts are passed through a series of impingement rings in a microwave cavity, and each of the rings has a plurality of inwardly facing nozzles for directing jets of air in a radial direction toward the parts. Rollers transport the parts between the rings and can be driven at different speeds to accommodate elongation of the rubber parts as they expand. The microwave power is applied in pulses to provide more uniform heating of the parts, and the time base of the pulses can be changed without having to readjust the on-time of the pulses to maintain the on-time as a given percentage of the time base.