General Electric Company

Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.

Jerrod Aaron Kappler

Alexander Boris Leibman

Alaknanda Acharya

Michael Wuttikorn Ekbundit

David Scott Dunn

Joseph Duane Tobbe

James Quentin Pollett

Michael F Finch

Richard Dean Suel, Ii

Steven Keith Root

Chad Michael Helms

John Keith Besore

Jeff Donald Drake

Natarajan Venkatakrishnan

Errin Whitney Gnadinger

Paul Owen Davis

Eric Kent Watson

Joshua Stephen Wiseman

Matthew David Mersch

Timothy Martin Wetzel

Jay Andrew Broniak

Justin Patrick Todd

Fikreadam Abebe Damtew

Meher Prasadu Kollipara

Mariano Pablo Filippa

Edward Simeon Chupka

Darin Franks

Aaron Lee Welch

Mark Anthony Didat

Timothy T Hertrick

Steven David Paul

Carl W Risen

S Neil Malone

David Duane Warmuth

Taranjeet Singh

Shelly Elizabeth Warms

Daniel Stephen Frazer

Christopher Omalley

Paul Douglas Mantle

Lois Haeun Kwon

Austin Vinoth Sargunum

Brandon Wayne Coats

Mark Anthony Rinaudo

Roman Roman Vila

Meher P Kollipara

Richard D Suel

John K Besore

Joshua S Wiseman

Washing machine appliance ventilation systems and methods include rotating a wash basket of the washing machine appliance for an ON period, whereby a flow of ambient air is drawn through an aperture in the washing machine appliance from an ambient environment into the wash basket. The systems and methods also include comparing a humidity within the washing machine appliance to a reference humidity value. When a difference between the humidity within the washing machine appliance and the reference humidity value is greater than a threshold, the step of rotating the wash basket for the ON period is repeated. When the difference between the humidity within the washing machine appliance and the reference humidity value is less than or equal to the threshold, the ventilation cycle or method is terminated.

Washing machine ventilation systems and methods

A washing machine appliance, including methods of operation, is provided herein. The washing machine appliance may include a cabinet, a tub positioned within the cabinet, a wash basket, and a nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly may be mounted within the cabinet and configured to provide wash fluid to the tub. The nozzle assembly may include an extendable nozzle, a valve assembly, a retractable fluid supply conduit, a supplemental heater, and a temperature sensor. The extendable nozzle may define a fluid path between a nozzle inlet and a nozzle outlet. The valve assembly may be configured to provide a flow of wash fluid to the extendable nozzle. The supplemental heater may be positioned in thermal communication with the flow of wash fluid between the valve assembly and the nozzle outlet. The temperature sensor may be positioned in thermal communication with the flow of wash fluid downstream from the valve assembly.

Washing machine appliance and nozzle assembly

A removable storage container that may be stored inside an appliance when the appliance is not in use or when the appliance is operated in a freshening mode, a laundry appliance that incorporates such storage container, and a method for freshening the clothes and/or other articles.

Laundry appliance storage container and method for freshening contents thereof

A fluid additive dispenser for a washing machine appliance is provided. The dispenser includes a platform have a receiving surface. The receiving surface is elevated relative to a bottom of the dispenser and is positioned in view of an opening in the top of the dispenser. As fluid additives are drained or siphoned from the dispenser and off of the platform, the receiving surface will become visible through the opening even as some residual fluid additives may remain in the dispenser. The user is thereby provided with a more desirable appearance inside the dispenser with regard to e.g., residues or remains of fluid additives that would otherwise be visible.

Pedestal in dispenser cups of a washing machine

A method and apparatus for sensing the level of fluid present in a dispenser, such as a detergent or fabric softener dispenser, of a washing machine appliance and to detecting an out of balance condition for such appliance is provided. A pressure sensor is used to determine the level of fluid present and to provide indications of the same at various levels of use of the fluid. One or more pressure sensors can also be used to detect an out of balance condition when the appliance is a washing machine.

Bulk dispenser fluid level sensing and out of balance detection for a washing machine appliance

One exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to a vertical axis washing machine. The washing machine includes a cabinet having a top portion with a lid and side portions extending downwardly from the top portion. A tub is positioned within the cabinet with a basket rotatably supported within the tub. The washing machine also includes a heater and a water level sensor. The water level sensor controls the volume of water that enters the tub and the heater generates steam from such volume of water.

Vertical axis washing machine having steam features

One exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to a vertical axis washing machine. The washing machine includes a cabinet having a top portion with a lid and side portions extending downwardly from the top portion. The lid has a first layer and a second layer that are separated by a volume of space defined by the first layer and the second layer. A tub is positioned within the cabinet with a basket rotatably supported within the tub. The washing machine also includes a heater and a water level sensor. The water level sensor controls the volume of water that enters the tub and the heater generates steam from such volume of water.

An apparatus for delivering additive into a clothes basket and cleaning remaining additive from an additive container are provided. The apparatus includes a clothes basket rotatable about an axis, a motor coupled to the clothes basket, a Venturi component, an additive container connected to a vacuum area of the Venturi component through a U-tube, a water inlet connected to the Venturi component through an inlet hose, an outlet hose connecting the Venturi component to the clothes basket, a valve controlling flow of water into the inlet hose, a valve controlling flow of water into the additive container, and a processor coupled to the motor and the valves, the processor being operative to manipulate the valve controlling flow of water into the inlet hose and the valve controlling flow of water into the additive container to deliver additive into the clothes basket and to clean remaining additive from the additive container.

Apparatus and method for utilizing a venturi effect in a dispenser

A system for calibrating a fluid additive dispensing system of an appliance such as e.g., a washing machine is provided. For example, the system can calibrate for significant differences in the pressure of the water supply provided to the appliance during operation. Calibrations can also be implemented for significant differences in viscosity and/or density of the fluid additives.

Appliance bulk dispenser calibration using a pressure sensor

One exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to a motor assembly for a washing machine. The motor assembly includes a rotor and a stator. The stator includes an inner diameter and an outer diameter with the inner diameter including an insulator. The insulator defines a fastening opening for joining the stator to the washing machine. The insulator includes a locating pin that is separate and in a different plane from the fastening opening and configured to mate with a bearing retainer in the washing machine.

Motor assembly for washing machine

A clothes washer is provided comprising one or more power consuming functions and a controller in signal communication with an associated utility. The controller can receive and process a signal from the associated utility indicative of current state of an associated utility. The controller operates the clothes washer in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode in response to the received signal. The controller is configured to change the power consuming functions by changing the duty cycling profile of the heater and/or mechanical action of the basket in the energy savings mode.

Clothes washer demand response by duty cycling the heater and/or the mechanical action

A washing machine includes a casing, a tub disposed within the casing, and a basket configured for receipt of articles to be washed. An additive pack dispenser is disposed within the casing above the tub and included a pack receiver configured for receipt of an additive pack therein. The receiver is biased to a first position wherein the additive pack is stored and is movable to a second position wherein the additive pack is dispensed by gravity from the receiver into the tub. An actuator is disposed proximate to the receiver and is oriented so as to move the receiver at a defined time to cause the receiver to move to the second dispense position and deposit the additive pack into the tub.

Additive dispenser for a washing machine

A bulk dispensing system for a washing machine is provided. The bulk dispensing system includes at least one bulk storage tank mounted within the washing machine. A tube provides fluid communication between the at least one bulk storage tank and a tub mounted within a cabinet of the washing machine. A pump is operatively coupled to the tube and configured to move fluid from within the at least one bulk storage tank into the tub through the tube. A controller is operatively coupled to the pump and configured to control an amount of fluid moved into the tub.

Bulk dispensing system for washing machine

A clothes washer is provided comprising one or more power consuming functions and a controller in signal communication with an associated utility. The controller can receive and process a signal from the associated utility indicative of current state of an associated utility. The controller operates the clothes washer in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode in response to the received signal. The controller is configured to change the power consuming functions by modifying the spin cycle to achieve a lower remaining moisture content in the clothes load prior to going into a dryer, thus reducing overall total energy consumption to completely wash and dry a clothes load.

Clothes washer demand response with at least one additional spin cycle

An apparatus is provided herein. The apparatus includes, a clothes basket rotatable about an axis, a motor coupled to the clothes basket, an additive tank, a Venturi component comprising a hole connecting to a water inlet, a hole connecting to the additive tank, and a hole connecting to the clothes basket, a first valve, a second valve, and a processor coupled to the first valve and the second valve, the processor being operative to carry out a dispensing phase of the apparatus, wherein the dispensing phase comprises dispensing additive to the clothes basket, and carry out a self-cleaning phase of the apparatus, wherein the self-cleaning phase comprises washing the additive tank.

Apparatus and method for using a dispensing system utilizing a Venturi component

Growing community of inventors

Louisville, KY, United States of America

Jerrod Aaron Kappler