Abstract: A bulk lint storage system supported by a top panel of a dryer. The storage system includes a elongated lint tray connected to the top panel and having an inlet port at one end for receiving lint laden air and an outlet port. A lid is hingedly connected to the lint tray and can be positioned in an open or closed position. A lint basket having an inlet opening and a plurality of screened outlet openings is slidingly supported on support rails extending from the lid. When the lid is closed the inlet opening of the lint basket aligns with the inlet port of the lint tray wherein lint laden air is supplied into the lint basket. When the lid is positioned in an open position, the lint basket is slidingly removable from the support rails such that accumulated lint may be cleaned therefrom.

Abstract: A control device for heating elements, particularly for use in household electrical appliances such as cookers, cooking hobs, ovens and the like, comprising a driven switch in series with the, a first capacitor acting as a filter in parallel with the load, a second capacitor acting as a freewheeling capacitor operationally in series with the load and with the capacitor, these two being connected in parallel, and at least one inductor means in series with the load, characterised in that: a) the driven switch is a static switch hence able to assume an open state and a closed state; b) an inductor is provided in parallel with the load, or alternatively a section of the inductor means is in parallel with the load; c) a freewheeling diode is provided connected between an intermediate point between the inductor or section and freewheeling capacitor and an intermediate point between the load and static switch, so that when the static switch is in one state the freewheeling capacitor is charged via the freewheeling d

Abstract: A thermal convection oven comprises an enclosure housing an oven cavity having connected rear, top, bottom and side walls to define an oven space having a front opening. A door is hingedly mounted to the enclosure about the front opening providing selective access to the oven space. A bottom plate is mounted in the oven space above the bottom wall separating a heated space from a cooking space, the plate having peripheral bottom vent openings. A heating element is disposed in the heated space. A blower fan is disposed in the heated space in proximity to the heating element. A top vent opening is in the cavity above the bottom plate. The blower fan circulates air heated by the heating element through the bottom vent openings into the cooking space and out the top vent openings.

Abstract: A door construction is provided for a refrigeration appliance where the door has an exterior shell with a certain degree of rigidity, an interior liner spaced from the exterior shell and being less rigid than the shell, a foamed insulation material disposed between the exterior shell and the interior liner and a reinforcement sheet having a rigidly greater than the liner located between the exterior shell and the liner. The reinforcement sheet may either be retained and placed by the foamed insulation material or by an adhesive layer between the sheet and the liner. Preferably the liner has a planar surface and the sheet has a planar surface in engagement with the planar surface of the liner. The sheet may be non-perforated or perforated and be made of a metallic material.

Abstract: A microwave oven comprises a microwave radiation source, a microwave-activable bottom heater (4) on which the food is placed, and optionally an IR-radiating top heater, which all can be controlled via the control unit of the oven. Further, the oven comprises one or more sensors for sensing the temperature of the bottom heater (4) and feeding this information back to the control unit. The feedback temperature information makes it possible to impart the desired temperature to the bottom heater (4) by controlling the microwave radiation source and/or the top heater.

Abstract: An insulated door for a refrigerator or other appliance having an external panel of an open box configuration without integrally molded inwardly directed flange portions, a plurality of separately installed trim pieces arranged around an edge perimeter of the external panel, the trim pieces having a socket region for snap engagement with the edge of the external panel, and a flange portion extending therefrom inwardly. An inside liner is applied over the trim pieces and a gasket is applied around the edge of the inside liner captured between the inside liner and the trim pieces. The invention allows for the economical molding of the external panel and the assembly of the inside liner and gasket to the external panel before a foamed-in place operation to apply the inside insulation which will unitize the structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for securing an outlet hose and an inlet hose or an inlet valve to a rear wall baffle of a domestic appliance such as a washing machine, dishwasher and the like. The outlay on parts and assembly is considerably reduced in that there is provided in the rear wall baffle an opening into which a retaining portion may be resiliently engaged, and in that the retaining portion has two outwardly open resilient engagement openings, into which the outlet hose and the inlet hose or the inlet valve may be resiliently engaged and axially immovably secured before resilient engagement of the retaining portion in the opening in the rear wall baffle.

Abstract: A refrigerant expansion device for expanding refrigerant flowing within a refrigerant line from a condenser to an evaporator in a refrigeration system. The refrigerant expansion device includes a tubular restrictor having a cylindrical main portion and a tapered nozzle portion wherein the nozzle portion includes an outlet end having an orifice. A solder ring is disposed about the tapered nozzle portion and may be press fit onto the restrictor for secure engagement therewith. During the expansion device fabrication, the tubular restrictor is inserted into the refrigerant line to a predetermined position. The exterior of the refrigerant line is then heated at the predetermined position such that heat is transferred through the refrigerant line and melts the solder ring thereby brazing the restrictor to the refrigerant line at the predetermined position.

Abstract: A lazy susan type pan and carriage assembly wherein the pan is rotatably supported by a carriage is provided. The carriage is also slidably supported beneath an adjustable cantilevered shelf. The pan and carriage may be pulled forward to extend beyond the shelf while the pan, supported by the carriage, may be rotated to allow easy access to the items stored within the pan. The pan is rotatably supported on rollers.

Abstract: A control circuit for a series type dc motor. The control circuit uses a switching cell to control motor speed. The switching cell and motor receive power from a filtered dc supply. A tachometer generator produces a voltage proportional to motor speed. The speed voltage is compared to a speed reference signal voltage and the difference is proportionally integrated to develop a speed error signal voltage. The speed reference signal voltage is developed at a summing node where a current generated by the control's microcontroller is summed with a current proportional to the input ripple voltage of the control's dc supply. The microcontroller also receives a voltage proportional to the control's dc input as a reference. The speed error signal voltage is compared with the output voltage of a current sensor that is in series with the motor feeder arrangement and the comparator's output is used to reset a bistable flip flop.

Abstract: A method for controlling the microwave feed in a microwave oven, as well as a microwave oven for implementing the method, is disclosed. The power level (P) of the microwaves is controlled by periodic activation or inactivation of the microwave radiation source of the oven during a sequence of control cycles. The oven has a rotary bottom plate carrying the food or dish, and/or a rotary field agitator or aerial. The heating uniformity is improved by adjusting to one another the duration of the control cycle and the revolution time of the bottom plate or of the field agitator or aerial, while taking into consideration the aimed-at power level. In a procedure composed of several steps with different power levels and heating times, the heating times of the different steps are also adjusted to the current control-cycle duration.

Abstract: A sliding platform for a cabinet for refrigerator and/or freezer having a stationary base secured to a floor of the cabinet and a sliding platform guided and facilitated for sliding by a plurality of loosely captured rollers between the platform and the base and prevented from tipping by anti-tip tabs. Both the platform and base have air entry air holes for delivering return air to an air passage beneath a top surface of the base.

Abstract: An appliance including a compartment liner having a back wall, side walls, and rounded corners connecting the back wall to the side walls includes a shelf mounting system having a linear portion secured to the back wall, a hooked portion forming one edge of the linear portion and a folded leg forming an opposite edge. Spacer members extend between the linear portion and the back wall of the liner. A vertical series of slots to receive shelf brackets is laterally offset to the outside of a vertical series of fastener apertures.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring and displaying a time interval between a valve closure and subsequent termination of a flow at a spigot is provided. The apparatus has magnetic sensors coupled to a flow regulating valve for providing a signal indicative of a solenoid-activated valve closure and detectors for determining fluid flow. The detectors have an infra-red light source and associated photo-sensor mounted near the water outlet spigot such that when a fluid flow is present at the spigot, the fluid reflects light from the infra-red light source so that the associated photo-sensor provides an output signal. A differential amplifier compares the photo-sensor output signal with a constant to determine a water run condition. Logic circuitry is connected to the comparison signal output to provide a timer actuation. The timer measures and displays the time interval between a valve closure and subsequent termination of flow at a spigot. The apparatus may be embodied as a hand-held or stationary unit.

Abstract: In a microwave oven, a procedure for cooking or heating food is controlled by means of one or more humidity sensors (11) which sense the humidity emission from the food or dish. The control is based on the sensing of relative humidity variations and require access to an initial humidity value or reference value, which is established through a calculation process eliminating the effect of residual humidity remaining in the oven while saving time when starting the cooking or heating procedure.

Abstract: An automatic washer having an enclosure surrounding an imperforate tub including an access opening and a perforate wash basket rotatably disposed within the tub about a horizontal axis wherein the tub access opening is provided with a flexible tub door for selectively closing the tub access opening. The flexible tub door is slidably supported by the tub for selectively closing the access opening wherein the tub door is positionable in a closed position and an open position. A spring is interconnected with the tub door for biasing the tub door toward an open position. A door catch is provided for engaging the tub door in a fully closed position against the biasing force of the spring and means are provided for selectively actuating the door catch such that the tub door may be selectively engaged in the closed position or released for movement to a fully open position. During the tub door closing operation, the rotatable wash basket is coupled to the tub door.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring validity of a volatile memory of a microcomputer in an electrical circuit supplied with electrical power. Loss of electrical power is sensed and upon sensing loss of power, counter is initialized. Data is obtained from a first critical memory location in the volatile memory and is stored in a second non-critical memory location in the volatile memory which is used for operating data storage during normal powered operation of the circuit. The circuit is then sensed for return of electrical power. Upon resumption of power, the data in the first memory location is compared with the data stored in the second memory location. If detection of a variance of data contents occurs between the first memory location and the second memory location, volatile memory is reset from a preset instruction. If no variance is detected, operation of the circuit is resumed utilizing the data stored in the first memory location.

Abstract: A humidity control assembly is provided for use with a refrigerator crisper pan which is constructed to snap into a plain opening in a wall of the crisper pan. The humidity control assembly is formed of two pieces, a slide body having detents for securing the body in the wall of the crisper pan and a track for receiving a control slide member. The control slide member is received in the track and can slide to change the effective size of an opening through the slide body. No additional fasteners are required to hold the humidity control assembly in the crisper pan and no special molding or machining is required for the crisper pan.