Abstract: A dryer appliance and a method of operating the same are provided. In one aspect, the dryer appliance includes a drum rotatably mounted within a cabinet. The drum defines a chamber that is in fluid communication with a conditioning system of the dryer appliance. The conditioning system heats air circulating therethrough and removes water from the process air. A collection tank collects the water and a drain pump removes water from the collection tank intermittently when the water reaches a predetermined level. The frequency at which the drain pump removes water from the collection tank is utilized to determine the moisture extraction rate indicative of the rate at which moisture is removed from the clothes. The moisture extraction rate is utilized to control the mass flow rate of refrigerant in a heat pump sealed system or the process air flow rate through the closed loop air circuit.

Abstract: A dryer appliance and a method of operating the same are provided. In one aspect, the dryer appliance includes a drum rotatably mounted within a cabinet. The drum defines a chamber that is in fluid communication with a conditioning system of the dryer appliance. The conditioning system heats air circulating therethrough. A variable speed blower fan is provided to circulate air between the conditioning system and the chamber. A sensor is positioned at or proximate a drum exit of the drum. A controller of the dryer appliance receives an input indicative of the relative humidity of the air at the drum exit. Based on the received input, the controller determines a control command. The control command can be routed to a blower fan motor operable to drive the blower fan. The blower fan motor receives the control command and adjusts a flow rate of the air exiting the drum exit.

Abstract: A dryer appliance and a method of operating the same are provided. In one aspect, the dryer appliance includes a drum rotatably mounted within a cabinet. The cabinet defines an interior volume and a vent. The dryer appliance includes a closed loop airflow circuit along which process air is moved. The drum defines a chamber positioned along the closed loop airflow circuit. A conditioning system of the dryer appliance is also positioned along the closed loop airflow circuit and is operable to heat the process air flowing along the circuit. The dryer appliance includes a vent fan operable to move cabinet air disposed within the interior volume and not within the airflow circuit through the vent of the cabinet. The cabinet air can be vented to an outdoor space or other suitable space.

Abstract: A dryer appliance includes a cabinet. A drum is disposed within the cabinet. The drum is mounted such that the drum is fixed relative to the cabinet. The drum defines a length between a first end portion of the drum and a second end portion of the drum. The dryer appliance also includes an air duct and a fan. The air duct is coupled to the fan. The air duct has an outlet positioned at a bottom portion of the drum. The fan is operable to urge a flow of air through the air duct and into the drum at the outlet of the air duct.

Abstract: A dryer appliance and a method of operating the same are provided. In one aspect, the dryer appliance includes a drum rotatably mounted within a cabinet. The cabinet defines an interior volume and a vent. The dryer appliance includes a closed loop airflow circuit along which process air is moved. The drum defines a chamber positioned along the closed loop airflow circuit. A conditioning system of the dryer appliance is also positioned along the closed loop airflow circuit and is operable to heat the process air flowing along the circuit. The dryer appliance includes a vent fan operable to move cabinet air disposed within the interior volume and not within the airflow circuit through the vent of the cabinet. The cabinet air can be vented to an outdoor space or other suitable space.

Abstract: A dryer appliance including a cabinet with a drum rotatably mounted within the cabinet. The drum defines a chamber for the receipt of articles for drying. The dryer appliance also includes a sealed refrigerant circuit in thermal communication with the chamber and a condensation tank configured to receive condensate from an evaporator of the sealed refrigerant circuit. The condensate is selectively in thermal communication with a condenser of the sealed refrigerant circuit.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance and methods of operation are provided. The washing machine appliance generally includes an apron and a sub-washer unit suspended within the apron by a plurality of dampers. A measurement device is mounted on the sub-washer unit to measure the movement of the sub-washer unit. The movement of each damper is calculated based on the relative position of the damper and the measurement device. By monitoring the movement of each damper, the amount of energy dissipated by each damper during operation may be calculated and the operation of the washing machine appliance may be adjusted when the amount of energy dissipated and/or power level exceeds a predetermined energy threshold.

Abstract: A method of operating a dryer appliance includes directing a flow of hot dry air into a chamber defined within a drum of the dryer appliance. The method also includes receiving a signal indicative of an atmospheric condition external to the dryer appliance and determining whether the indicated atmospheric condition is less than a threshold. The method may further include directing a flow of air from the chamber to an interior space when the indicated atmospheric condition external to the dryer is less than the threshold, and activating a component of an environmental control system in communication with the interior space when the indicated atmospheric condition of the ambient environment external to the dryer is less than the threshold.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance and method of operation are generally provided herein. The washing machine appliance may include a cabinet, a first pair of diagonal feet, a second pair of diagonal feet, a tub, a basket, a measurement device, a motor, and a controller. The motor may be configured for selectively rotating the basket within the tub. The controller may be in operative communication with the motor and the measurement device. The controller may be configured for rotating the basket for a first period, monitoring movement of the cabinet between the first pair of diagonal feet and between the second pair of diagonal feet during the rotating, determining a first diagonal movement value, determining a second diagonal movement value, evaluating one or both of the diagonal movement values against a predetermined value, and transmitting a stability signal.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance includes a nozzle assembly for providing wash fluid to a tub of the washing machine appliance. The nozzle assembly includes an extendable nozzle mounted on the end of a retractable fluid supply conduit such as a telescoping arm or a folding arm. The retractable fluid supply conduit is movable for positioning the extendable nozzle in a retracted position and an extended position. The retractable fluid supply conduit is fluidly coupled to a valve assembly on the back of the washing machine appliance such that a user may extend the extendable nozzle to perform pretreating operations or otherwise selectively supply wash fluid to the tub.

Abstract: A door of a dryer appliance includes a frame defining a distribution plenum surrounding a transparent window. The frame defines a plurality of inlets on an inner surface and being spaced circumferentially around the frame to provide fluid communication between a drying chamber and the distribution plenum. A plenum outlet provides fluid communication between the distribution plenum and a trap duct for permitting the discharge of heated air from the drying chamber.

Abstract: A dryer appliance including an air circulation duct is provided herein. The dryer appliance may also include a cabinet, a drum, an air handler, and a heat exchange section. The air circulation duct may define a recirculation loop with the drum. The air circulation duct may define a drum air inlet upstream from the drum and a drum air outlet downstream from the drum. The air circulation duct may further define a predetermined leakage port in fluid communication between the recirculation loop and the interior volume of the cabinet. The air handler may be disposed along the air circulation duct in fluid communication between the drum air outlet and the drum air inlet. The heat exchange section may be disposed along the air circulation duct in thermal communication with air within the recirculation loop.

Abstract: A door of a dryer appliance includes a frame defining a distribution plenum surrounding a transparent window. The frame defines a plurality of inlets on an inner surface and being spaced circumferentially around the frame to provide fluid communication between a drying chamber and the distribution plenum. A plenum outlet provides fluid communication between the distribution plenum and a trap duct for permitting the discharge of heated air from the drying chamber.

Abstract: A dryer appliance including a cabinet with a drum rotatably mounted within the cabinet. The drum defines a chamber for the receipt of articles for drying. The dryer appliance also includes a sealed refrigerant circuit in thermal communication with the chamber and a condensation tank configured to receive condensate from an evaporator of the sealed refrigerant circuit. The condensate is selectively in thermal communication with a condenser of the sealed refrigerant circuit.

Abstract: A dryer appliance including an air circulation duct is provided herein. The dryer appliance may also include a cabinet, a drum, an air handler, and a heat exchange section. The air circulation duct may define a recirculation loop with the drum. The air circulation duct may define a drum air inlet upstream from the drum and a drum air outlet downstream from the drum. The air circulation duct may further define a predetermined leakage port in fluid communication between the recirculation loop and the interior volume of the cabinet. The air handler may be disposed along the air circulation duct in fluid communication between the drum air outlet and the drum air inlet. The heat exchange section may be disposed along the air circulation duct in thermal communication with air within the recirculation loop.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance includes a nozzle assembly for providing wash fluid to a tub of the washing machine appliance. The nozzle assembly includes an extendable nozzle mounted on the end of a retractable fluid supply conduit such as a telescoping arm or a folding arm. The retractable fluid supply conduit is movable for positioning the extendable nozzle in a retracted position and an extended position. The retractable fluid supply conduit is fluidly coupled to a valve assembly on the back of the washing machine appliance such that a user may extend the extendable nozzle to perform pretreating operations or otherwise selectively supply wash fluid to the tub.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance and methods of operation are provided. The washing machine appliance generally includes an apron and a sub-washer unit suspended within the apron by a plurality of dampers. A measurement device is mounted on the sub-washer unit to measure the movement of the sub-washer unit. The movement of each damper is calculated based on the relative position of the damper and the measurement device. By monitoring the movement of each damper, the amount of energy dissipated by each damper during operation may be calculated and the operation of the washing machine appliance may be adjusted when the amount of energy dissipated and/or power level exceeds a predetermined energy threshold.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance and method of operation are generally provided herein. The washing machine appliance may include a cabinet, a first pair of diagonal feet, a second pair of diagonal feet, a tub, a basket, a measurement device, a motor, and a controller. The motor may be configured for selectively rotating the basket within the tub. The controller may be in operative communication with the motor and the measurement device. The controller may be configured for rotating the basket for a first period, monitoring movement of the cabinet between the first pair of diagonal feet and between the second pair of diagonal feet during the rotating, determining a first diagonal movement value, determining a second diagonal movement value, evaluating one or both of the diagonal movement values against a predetermined value, and transmitting a stability signal.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance includes a tub positioned within a cabinet. The tub has a wall and a plurality of ribs extending from the wall. A secondary wall is positioned on the plurality of ribs opposite the wall of the tub such that the secondary wall is spaced from the wall on the plurality of ribs. The wall of the tub, the plurality of ribs and the secondary wall define a plurality of cavities between the wall of the tub and the secondary wall. Each cavity of the plurality of cavities is at least partially filled or fillable with a liquid.

Abstract: A method for operating a washing machine appliance includes flowing a volume of liquid into a tub, and agitating articles within the tub for a first period and using a first agitation profile, the tub containing the volume of liquid. The method further includes measuring movement of the tub during agitation of the articles within the tub, wherein the step of measuring movement occurs after agitating articles within the tub for the first period and for an intermediate measurement period and using an intermediate agitation profile, and wherein the intermediate agitation profile is different from the first agitation profile. The method further includes agitating articles within the tub for a second period when the final measured movement is greater than an out-of-balance movement threshold. The method further includes draining liquid from the tub when the final measured movement is less than the out-of-balance movement threshold.