General Electric Company

Donald Richard Dickerson, Jr

Robert K Hollenbeck

Michael F Finch

Mark Edward Dausch

William Hull Bicknell

Vivek Venugopal Badami

Thomas R Payne

Walter Whipple

Douglas Anthony Able

Youssef El-Shoubary

Steven Andrew Rice

Richard E Hornung

Meher Prasadu Kollipara

Stephen James West

Seth Alexander Capello

A method for assembling a washing machine is provided. The method includes providing a mode shifter including a solenoid, coupling a basket and an agitator to the mode shifter, and coupling a motor to the mode shifter. The solenoid selectively allows the motor to rotate at least one of the basket and the agitator. The method also includes affixing a motor controller to the motor, and electrically coupling the motor controller to each of the mode shifter and the motor. The motor controller is in operational control communication with the mode shifter and the motor.

Method and apparatus for controlling a mode shifter in a washing machine from a motor controller

A method and control system for automatically halting operation of a washing machine by stopping operation of the washing machine motor is provided. The washing machine that implements the method includes a motor controller having a primary microprocessor and a secondary microprocessor which serves as a backup redundancy processor in the event there is a malfunction with the primary microprocessor or the primary microprocessor fails to halt washing machine operation within a prescribed window of time. The primary microprocessor controls operation of all of the washing machine electrically controlled components. The secondary microprocessor is electrically connected to a lid switch and the washing machine motor and is configured to halt operation of the motor in response to the primary microprocessor failing to halt motor operation after the lid is open.

Method and apparatus for providing redundancy in monitoring the lid switch and basket of a washing machine

A remote operation management system for commercial appliances is provided. The system includes a user interface for authorizing use of an appliance and a dedicated appliance controller coupled to the user interface and the appliance for controlling operation of the appliance. An appliance communication controller is coupled to the user interface over an appliance communication connection, and an external host controller is coupled to the appliance communication controller over a host communication connection. The external host controller is configured to communicate a message for the appliance to the appliance communication controller. A remote management system is coupled to the external host controller and configured to control a function of the appliance.

Remote operation management system

The present invention discloses a device and method for separating lint particles in a clothes dryer. In the present invention, the device and method use a cyclone to separate the lint particles. The cyclone includes a housing container having an inlet port and an outlet port. A screen is positioned about the inlet port. A tubing extends through the outlet port into the housing container. A drawing means draws moisture and lint laden air from the clothes dryer through the screen. A circulating means circulates the moisture and lint laden air in the housing container about the tubing. A removing means removes the moisture and lint laden air from the housing container and retains any lint particles within the housing container. The cyclone improves upon the efficiency of accumulating lint particles without compromising the passage of air flow in the exhaust duct and improves upon the passage of air flow without decreasing the amount of lint particles being trapped.

Device and method for separating lint particles in a clothes dryer

An energy saving method of operating a washing machine such that the amount of water added to the washer basket is proportionate to the weight of the articles to be washed includes the steps of determining a normalized inertia of the washer basket loaded with articles to be cleaned; determining an estimated weight of the load of articles to be washed based upon the normalized inertia value; and controlling a washer water supply system to add a load-specific volume of water to the washer basket, the magnitude of the load-specific volume of water corresponding to the estimated weight of the articles to be washed. An energy efficient washing machine in accordance with this invention includes an induction motor coupled to the washer basket, a washer water supply system coupled to the washer basket, and a washer controller coupled to the drive motor and the washer water supply system so as to respectively control operation thereof. The washer controller includes a load weight circuit for generating control signals for the washer water supply system to add a load-specific volume of water to the washer basket in correspondence with an inertia-based estimated load weight signal generated by the load weight circuit.

Energy efficient washer with inertia based method for determining load

A fabric washing machine has a container for fabrics and fluid to wash the fabrics. A switched reluctance motor is connected to the container. The motor is operated at a constant torque and the time needed to accelerate the container and a load of fabrics from one speed to a higher speed is measured. The measurement may be repeated with a different torque input. The inertia of the system, and thus the size of the fabric load, is calculated from the time measurement. The load size information, whether calculated or inputted, is used to calculate the blend of fabrics in the load. Water is added to the container in predetermined increments, and the container is oscillated a predetermined number of strokes and the required torque is measured after each addition of water. The required torque is used to calculate the blend of fabrics as the torque value varies with load size (already known) and the percentage of cotton in the load. An operation control includes a memory storing a number of set of values representing motor velocities and corresponding to particular load sizes and blends. The control calls up values from the set corresponding to the size and blend of the fabric load in the machine.

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Louisville, KY, United States of America

Donald Richard Dickerson, Jr