Whirlpool Corporation

Gerald L Kretchman

Dale E Mueller

James I Czech

R Bruce Sherer

James W Titus

Kurt Werner

James R Mulder

Mark C Celmer

Anthony Mason

Carl E Eichman

James Phillips Carow

Thomas Alan Latack

Victor W Cuthbert

David W Carr

John W Pielemeier

Vicki Lyn Wyatt

Robert M Weir

William Ohmann

William Andrew Jackson

Alvin E Burkall

Russell J Morrison

Eric M Coates

Linda A Higbee

William H Gartley

James Ignatius

A drive and support system for a bottom plate disposed in the bottom of a wash basket of an automatic washer. The bottom plate is driven to radially gyrate or wobble within the wash basket by an output shaft which extends upwardly though the bottom and is rotatable in a first and second direction. A spin tube is disposed coaxially about the output shaft and has a top end which engages the bottom of the basket. The spin tube is co-rotatable in the second direction with the output shaft. A universal joint pivotably supports the wash plate about the top end of the spin tube. Drive means connect the wash plate with the upper end of the output shaft such that the wash plate is disposed in an angled orientation when the output shaft is driven in the first direction and the wash plate is disposed in a level orientation when the output shaft is driven in the second direction. In this manner, the bottom plate is supported for wobbling during the wash portion of the wash cycle and is supported in a level orientation during the spin extraction portion of the wash cycle.

Drive system for a vertical axis washer

A washplate deflector for an automatic washer having a wash basket and a moveable washplate positioned within the basket. The deflector is mounted to the periphery of the washplate and abuts the wash basket, preventing clothing disposed in the wash basket from being caught between the washplate and the wash basket.

Automatic washer and a wash plate clothes deflector therefor

A tub ring is provided which forms an opening to a rotatable wash basket of a washing machine. The tub ring includes a clothes diverter which guides and deflects clothes in the basket downward, away from the opening, so that the clothes are wetted quickly. Preferably, the diverter guides the clothes into a flow from an inlet nozzle, which can also be formed in the tub ring. Additionally, dispensers for wash additives can be formed in the tub ring.

Integrated tub ring with clothes diverter

A method of washing clothes in an automatic washer having an imperforate wash tub, a perforate wash basket disposed within the tub and rotatable about a vertical axis and a bottom plate disposed within the lower portion of the wash basket and mounted for wobbling motion. The method of operation of the washer includes loading the clothes into the wash basket, adding water and detergent into the tub for forming wash liquid, recirculating the wash liquid over the clothes while driving the bottom plate in a nutating movement. Nutating movement describes the movement of the bottom plate wherein the bottom plate is slowly rotated within the wash basket while being driven in a rapid wobbling motion. In this fashion, the clothes are repeatedly moved under a spray pattern of wash liquid while being jostled and flexed for achieving he desired excellent soil removal.

Method of washing in a verticle axis washer

A method of rinsing in an automatic washer having an imperforate wash tub, a perforate wash basket disposed within the tub and rotatable about a vertical axis and a bottom plate disposed within the lower portion of the wash basket and mounted for wobbling motion. The method of rinsing includes adding rinse liquid into the wash basket and recirculating the rinse liquid over the clothes items while driving the bottom plate in a nutating movement. Nutating movement describes the movement of the bottom plate wherein the bottom plate is slowly rotated within the wash basket while being driven in a rapid wobbling motion. In this fashion, the clothes are repeatedly moved under a spray pattern of rinse liquid while being jostled and flexed for achieving the desired excellent detergent and soil removal during rinse. In a second embodiment, the step of slowly rotating the wash basket for moving the clothes under a spray pattern of rinse liquid is combined with a step of wobbling the bottom plate for agitating the clothes while spraying rinse liquid onto the clothes items.

Method of rinsing in a vertical axis washer

An automatic washer having an imperforate wash tub, a perforate wash basket disposed within the tub and rotatable about a vertical axis and a bottom plate disposed within the lower portion of the wash basket and mounted for wobbling motion. A motor is selectively interconnected with the basket and bottom plate for rotating the basket and the bottom plate together and for wobbling the bottom plate relative to the wash basket while the basket is held stationary such that the clothes items are agitated within the wash basket. A controlled rotation device is provided for driving the bottom plate in a wobbling motion while rotating the bottom plate, at a reduced rate, within the bottom of the wash basket. In a second embodiment, the wobble plate is supported and constrained to be driven in a wobbling motion while experiencing no rotation within the basket. A liquid level control system is also provided for supplying an optimum quantity of wash liquid into the tub wherein the clothes items within the wash basket are washed in an out-of-water wash process rather than being submerged. A recirculation system operates to pump wash liquid from a sump, disposed in the bottom of the tub, through a recirculation line and onto and through the clothes disposed within basket.

Vertical axis washer

An improved latching configuration for a side swing door includes a cabinet enclosure with at least one side wall. An opening is formed in the side wall to provide access to an interior of the cabinet. A door is pivotably attached to the side wall to selectively open and close the opening upon a pivoting movement of the door. A latch assembly is provided on the door and/or the side wall for securing the door to the side wall in a closed position. The latch assembly is positioned between a location of attachment of the door to the side wall and a free edge of the door opposite the attachment location, preferably midway between those points.

Latching for side swing dryer door

A transition duct assembly for a dryer air handling system, connecting a lint duct assembly to a blower housing includes two duct pieces assembled together with locking tabs and a tongue and groove arrangement at the longitudinal seams of the two duct pieces, a sealing ring and spring clip at the transition duct assembly/blower housing interface, and a simple one screw attachment arrangement at the transition duct assembly/lint duct assembly interface. The transition duct assembly provides an air sealed assembly which is accessible to assemble and disassemble from behind the front panels of the appliance, prevents sound and vibration transmission through the transition duct assembly, and minimizes hand tool work to assemble or disassemble the transition duct and the air handling system.

Dryer transition duct

A support structure for a vertically arranged combination household appliance, more particularly a front loading dryer assembly arranged above a top loading washer assembly, includes vertical main support members, horizontal members and other members. The structure adequately supports both appliance assemblies of the combination appliance during transportation and usage, provides improved operating performance during off balance washer spin conditions or dryer tumbling, and maintains unitary appliance characteristics by being an integral part of the combination appliance design and by being located entirely interior to the appliance cabinetry.

Washer/dryer frame construction

Heated dry rack or the like

A combined appliance for washing and drying laundry of the over/under type. The appliance includes a washer tub wherein the ratio of the tub diameter to the tub depth is approximately 1.3, and further includes a dryer having a drum wherein the ratio of the drum diameter to the drum depth is approximately 1.3. A washer basket is disposed in the washer tub, and the ratio of the dryer drum volume to the capacity of the washer basket is approximately 2.4. The volume of the dryer drum is greater than 4 cubic feet, and the washer basket capacity is greater than 2 cubic feet. The rearwardmost extent of the washer tub is closer to a vertical centerline of the dryer drum than to a rear of the dryer drum, thus enhancing access to the interior of the washer and facilitating transfer of the laundry from the washer to the dryer.

Washer/dryer configuration

A lid retainer mechanism is provided for an automatic washer which comprises an over-center spring device connected between the lid and the washer cabinet. As the lid is opened, the mechanism passes through a 'centered' position and beyond that point, the mechanism acts to urge the lid into a fully open position. This mechanism is particularly useful in a stacked washer/dryer arrangement where the lid is prevented by the bottom wall of the dryer from opening to a position perpendicular to the top of the washer.

Lid retainer mechanism for automatic washer

A dry rack for an axial flow dryer including a channel formed beneath the dry rack upper gridwork panel to direct airflow downward through the gridwork and out through the dryer exhaust opening. The channel is formed by side and back panels depending downwardly from the upper gridwork panel and a plate forming a floor and attached along bottom edges of the downwardly depending panels. Front edges of the side panels and the bottom plate abut against and surround the exhaust opening so as to force the channeling of exhaust air first through the upper gridwork panel and then out through the exhaust opening. For attaching the dry rack through the bottom edge of a doorway of the dryer, there is included a rectangular slide member panel that extends into a lint screen slot formed within a grill located within the exhaust opening and that engages support flanges therein to assist in supporting the dry rack from the exhaust opening.

Airflow directing dry rack

A retainer clip which is particularly useful in the environment of a dryer or other appliance to hold a pivotable toe panel stationary relative to the appliance frame as well as to locate it horizontally and vertically. The clip has a first spring portion in a U-shaped form which is received in an opening in the toe panel and a second spring portion in a V-shaped form which is received in a front panel rigidly secured to the frame. A free end of the second spring portion engages against a lower wall of the front panel of the appliance and a distal end is bent so that a tool can be used to disengage the clip from the front panel.

Growing community of inventors

St. Joseph Township, MI, United States of America

Gerald L Kretchman