Whirlpool Corporation

Vance A Kimball

Vincent P Gurubatham

Keith E Carr

Phalguni S Roy

A wash additive dispensing system and method for an automatic washer having a wash additive dispenser disposed on the upper portion of an agitator rotatably mounted within a wash basket. The wash additive dispenser comprises a receiving cup capable of receiving a wash additive and a dispensing cup secured to receive wash additive from the receiving cup. A cover member is disposed above the receiving cup and includes a funnel portion extending down into the receiving cup. During a fill cycle operation, a portion of wash liquid flowing into the wash basket through a water inlet device is channeled into a wash liquid supply conduit secured to the underside of a washer lid disposed above the wash basket. The supply conduit has a drain port positioned above the funnel portion of the cover member such that wash liquid continuously drains into the receiving cup through the funnel portion during the fill cycle. The dispenser also includes an overflow tube for channeling excess wash liquid added to the receiving cup into the dispensing cup. Prior to an agitation cycle, therefore, the receiving cup receives wash additive and wash liquid. During the agitation cycle the wash liquid and the wash additive disposed within the receiving cup thoroughly mix to form a diluted wash additive. The dispenser then drains the diluted wash additive into the wash tub subsequent to a high speed spin extraction cycle.

Fabric softener dispenser system for an automatic washer

An assembly of vertically spaced ovens with an air passage at the bottom of the upper oven and top of the lower oven having an inlet at the rear, and an outlet at the front of the assembly. An air moving device is provided for causing air flow forwardly through the passage to cool the oven structure. At least one of the ovens may be a microwave oven and the air moving device may serve to draw air from the interior of the microwave oven for delivery forwardly through the passage. At least one of the ovens may be provided with a front door having a vertical air flow passage for convective cooling of the door. The forward passage outlet may be disposed adjacent the upper end of the door vertical passage whereby the forceful air movement from the air moving device may draw air through the vertical passage for improved cooling of the door. A thermostat control may be provided for causing automatic operation of the air moving device. At least one of the ovens may include an integral air circulating structure to provide independent cooling thereof. The air moving device may draw air from about the upper oven and through the upper oven for delivery forwardly through the passage between the ovens.

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Lincoln, MI, United States of America

Vance A Kimball