Whirlpool Corporation

David Wayne Mundy

James Charles Johncock

Wyndham Fairchild Gary, Jr

Zachary Jan Bruin-Slot

Ryan Kevin Roth

Todd Michael Jozwiak

Robert H Ashton

Arne M Nystuen

Donald E Knoop

John M Kuss

Michael J Jakeway

Theodore F Meyers

Alan G Outcalt

Rachael Acker

An appliance, such as an oven, includes a housing having an internal compartment and an RF antenna. At least a portion of the housing comprises an electrically conductive portion. The antenna includes an active component and a connection to the electrically conductive portion, which serves as a ground plane of the antenna. The housing may include a door assembly having a window that includes the electrically conductive portion in the form of a transparent conductive layer. The door assembly may be detachable and the connection to the antenna may be made by way of capacitive coupling. In an alternative arrangement, the housing includes a light fixture for illuminating the internal compartment, wherein the active component of the antenna is disposed in the light fixture.

Appliance including an antenna using a portion of appliance as a ground plane

A system and methods for remote control of one or more appliances are provided. An external computing device, such as a mobile device, may be registered and associated with an appliance to be remotely controlled and monitored. The external computing device and the appliance to be remotely controlled by the external computing device may each be in communication with an external server via a network. When a remote control mode of the appliance is enabled, a selected operation of the appliance may be carried out in response to a remote control command generated by the external computing device.

Methods of remote control of appliances

A method for selectively restricting movement of an appliance position switch from a closed position to an open position includes positioning the pin within a channel of a body portion of a switch retention device and moving the body of the switch retention device in a first direction into an opening in a face of the appliance within which the pin is moveable from the open position to the closed position. Such movement is carried out to cause movement of the pin in the first direction toward the closed position. The method further includes continuing to move the switch retention device in the first direction such that a cap thereof contacts the face, and a tab extending outwardly from the body engages with the opening to retain the switch retention device in the opening and the pin in the closed position.

Method of controlling an appliance door position switch for sabbath mode operation

A position switch retention device for use with an appliance including a body defining a first end, a cap extending outwardly from a second end of the body opposite the first end, and a first tab extending from a side of the body. The first tab defines a ramp extending away from the body to an edge directed toward and spaced from the cap.

A position switch retention device for use with an appliance including a body defining a switch-receiving cavity open on at least a first end of the body, a cap extending outwardly from a second end of the body opposite the first end, and a first tab extending from a side of the body. The first tab defines a ramp extending away from the body to an edge directed toward and spaced from the cap.

Method of controlling an appliance door position switch for Sabbath mode operation

An appliance includes a position switch retention device for use with an appliance including a body defining a generally cylindrical profile extending through a first portion thereof along an axis and having a first radius. The body further defines a pin-receiving channel open on at least a first end thereof and positioned within the generally cylindrical profile. The device further includes a first tab extending from a side of the body. The tab defines a ramp and an edge with the ramp extending away from the first end of the body to the edge. A cap extends outwardly from a second end of the body opposite the first end. The cap is spaced apart from the edge of the tab at a first distance and has a second radius greater than the first radius.

An appliance includes a position switch retention device for use with an appliance includes a body defining a generally cylindrical profile extending through a first portion thereof along an axis and having a first radius. The body further defines a pin-receiving channel open on at least a first end thereof and positioned within the generally cylindrical profile. The device further includes a first tab extending from a side of the body. The tab defines a ramp and an edge with the ramp extending away from the first end of the body to the edge. A cap extends outwardly from a second end of the body opposite the first end. The cap is spaced apart from the edge of the tab at a first distance and has a second radius greater than the first radius.

An appliance is protected against ground faults by a ground fault interrupter (GFI) that sends a signal to an AND gate between the GFI and a controlling microprocessor on one side and a load relay for operating a load device in the appliance on the other side. The GFI signals a ground fault directly to the load relay causing it to deactivate the load device. The appliance is also protected against reverse polarity by a flow detector circuit that signals the load relay to deactivate the load device in a reverse polarity condition.

Protective electrical circuit

The invention is a dishwasher and a control therefore in which the control comprises multiple parallel loads, including a motor. The motor and the other loads are connected to one side of a power source by a motor relay, which is controlled by a processor. All the loads, except the motor, are connected to the other side of a power source by semiconductor switches with each load having a corresponding switch. The motor has an unswitched connection to the other side of the power source. The power to all the loads, including the motor, is controlled by the motor relay. If one of the switches fails in such a way that the circuit for one of the loads is closed, then the load will be shut off when the motor relay is opened to shut off power to the motor. Thus, it is possible to prevent the failed load circuit from operating during the entire wash cycle.

Dishwasher and control therefor

A method and control for an automatic washer is provided in which moisture extraction from a fabric load is controlled by extracting the moisture at increasingly faster levels of basket rotation. Initially the basket is rotated relatively slowly and it is subsequently rotated at successively faster speed levels, each increase occurring after substantially all of the moisture has been removed which is removable at a given speed level. Inertia of the fabric load is measured to determine the amount of incremental moisture removal. Use of such a method substantially reduces the force applied to the fabric load during the centrifugal extraction resulting in less wrinkling of the fabrics.

Water extraction method and control for automatic washer

A liquid control system is provided for an automatic washer which responds to a user's inputs of fabric type, desired temperature and additives required, to introduce into the tub of the washer an optimum volume of liquid to wash a clothes load in the tub, the average temperature of the liquid introduced to the tub being adjusted to compensate for the thermal effects of the tub. The selected additives are dispensed in a diluted form in the proper amounts during the filling operation.

Growing community of inventors

St. Joseph, MI, United States of America

David Wayne Mundy