Patents by Inventor GIANLUCA BOCCHINO

GIANLUCA BOCCHINO has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20180245274
    Abstract: A fluid flow system for a laundry appliance includes a blower that delivers process air along an airflow path having a heat exchanger. A drain channel receives condensate from the heat exchanger and fluid spray from a spray nozzle for directing lint particles to the drain channel and on to a sump for collecting fluid, including the condensate. A pump seat and a fluid outlet are integrally formed in a sump cover. A pump directs the fluid from the sump to the fluid outlet. A fluid level sensor detects at least minimum and maximum capacities of the fluid in the sump. When the fluid is below the minimum capacity, the pump defines an idle state. When the fluid reaches the minimum capacity, the pump defines an active state. When the fluid exceeds the maximum capacity, the pump directs the fluid to the fluid outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gianluca Bocchino, Roy E. Masters, Arun Rajendran
  • Publication number: 20180245272
    Abstract: A fluid delivery system for a laundry appliance includes a blower that delivers process air along an airflow path. A drum receives process air to dry laundry. A heat exchanger dehumidifies the process air and removes condensate therefrom. A drain channel receives condensate from the heat exchanger. A pump directs fluid from the drain channel and along a fluid path. The fluid at least partially includes the condensate. A fluid diverter valve receives the fluid from the pump and selectively and delivers the fluid sequentially to a plurality of spray nozzles that direct a flow of the fluid onto a lint filter and toward the drain channel and a fluid outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gianluca Bocchino, Arun Rajendran
  • Publication number: 20180245273
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a rotating drum for processing laundry. A blower directs process air through an airflow path that includes the rotating drum. A heat exchanger is positioned within the airflow path that dehumidifies the process air. A fixedly-secured lint filter captures lint from the process air at a position upstream of the heat exchanger. A fluid spray system has spray nozzles that deliver fluid to a surface of the fixedly-secured lint filter. Each spray nozzle of the plurality of spray nozzles directs captured lint away from the fixedly-secured lint filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gianluca Bocchino, Arun Rajendran
  • Publication number: 20180245271
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a blower that directs process air along an airflow path. An evaporator dehumidifies the process air and removes condensate from the process air. A heat exchange plate is disposed within the airflow path and supports the evaporator from below and within the airflow path. The heat exchange plate receives the condensate from the process air. A sloped area of the heat exchange plate directs the condensate downward and along the heat exchange plate to a condensate drain, wherein the sloped area includes a directing surface that blocks the process air from pushing the condensate upward and away from the condensate drain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gianluca Bocchino, Arun Rajendran
  • Publication number: 20180044844
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a rotating drum for processing laundry. A blower directs process air through an air path that includes the rotating drum. A heat exchanger is positioned within the air path that cools and dehumidifies the process air. A plurality of air filters arranged sequentially captures lint from the process air at respective positions upstream of the heat exchanger. A filter spray system has a plurality of fluid sprayers that deliver fluid to a surface of each air filter of the plurality of air filters. Each fluid sprayer of the plurality of fluid sprayers directs captured lint away from a respective air filter of the plurality of air filters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Gianluca Bocchino
  • Publication number: 20180044845
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a rotating drum and a door providing access to the rotating drum. A blower directs process air through an air path that includes the drum. A heat exchanger within the air path dehumidifies the process air. A first lint filter within the air path is forward of the drum and below the door. A second lint filter within the air path is downstream of the first lint filter and forward of the heat exchanger. The first and second lint filters capture lint from the process air upstream of the heat exchanger. The first lint filter is angled with respect to the second lint filter. A filter spray system has a plurality of fluid sprayers that deliver fluid to the first and second lint filters, respectively. Each fluid sprayer directs captured lint from the first and second lint filters to a common drain channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Gianluca Bocchino
  • Patent number: 9702076
    Abstract: A washing machine comprises a tub in which a drum is rotatably mounted, and a storage tank having a flow connection to the tub via a feeding line provided with a pump and a three-port valve adapted to drive the flow to the drain or to the storage tank, rinsing fluid being stored in the storage tank for subsequent reuse. The washing machine further comprises a return pipe connecting the storage tank to the tub by means of a two-port valve, on such return line an auxiliary pump being placed and being used either for emptying the storage tank or for carrying out a spray washing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Gianluca Bocchino, Marco Cagliani, Luca Caruso, Claudio Civanelli, Daniele Martinello
  • Publication number: 20140283312
    Abstract: A washing machine comprises a tub in which a drum is rotatably mounted, and a storage tank having a flow connection to the tub via a feeding line provided with a pump and a three-port valve adapted to drive the flow to the drain or to the storage tank, rinsing fluid being stored in the storage tank for subsequent reuse. The washing machine further comprises a return pipe connecting the storage tank to the tub by means of a two-port valve, on such return line an auxiliary pump being placed and being used either for emptying the storage tank or for carrying out a spray washing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: GIANLUCA BOCCHINO, MARCO CAGLIANI, LUCA CARUSO, CLAUDIO CIVANELLI, DANIELE MARTINELLO