Patents by Inventor ROY E. MASTERS

ROY E. MASTERS 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: 20240102229
    Abstract: A drying appliance includes a cabinet. A blower directs process air through a closed-loop airflow path and through a processing chamber and a condensing unit. The condensing unit is attached to an external surface of the cabinet. An open airflow path directs ambient air through the condensing unit and to an area exterior to the cabinet. The ambient air remains separated from the closed-loop airflow path. The condensing unit is configured to exchange heat between the process air within the closed-loop airflow path and the ambient air moved through the open airflow path. The ambient air cools and dehumidifies the process air to form condensate on an interior surface of the condensing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Roy E. Masters
  • Patent number: 11905644
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance for treating laundry according to an automatic cycle of operation includes a cabinet defining a cabinet interior. A drum is rotatable within the cabinet interior, and at least partially defines a treating chamber. The treating chamber has a treating chamber air inlet and a treating chamber air outlet. A drying air circuit is fluidly coupled to the treating chamber air inlet and to the treating chamber air outlet. The laundry treating appliance can include first and second air temperature sensors, at least a first humidity sensor, and a controller operably coupled with the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Roy E. Masters
  • Patent number: 11851807
    Abstract: A drying appliance includes a cabinet. A blower directs process air through a closed-loop airflow path and through a processing chamber and a condensing unit. The condensing unit is attached to an external surface of the cabinet. An open airflow path directs ambient air through the condensing unit and to an area exterior to the cabinet. The ambient air remains separated from the closed-loop airflow path. The condensing unit is configured to exchange heat between the process air within the closed-loop airflow path and the ambient air moved through the open airflow path. The ambient air cools and dehumidifies the process air to form condensate on an interior surface of the condensing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Roy E. Masters
  • Patent number: 11846059
    Abstract: A combination washer/dryer machine has a rotatable drum inside a cabinet. The drum has an external surface. A tub is positioned inside the cabinet. The drum is rotatable in the tub. The tub has an inner surface. A seal extends between the exterior surface of the drum and the inner surface of the tub forming a desired gap during both washing and drying operations and minimizing bypass of drying air during the drying operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Arun Rajendran, Roy E. Masters
  • Patent number: 11821135
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance comprising a combination washer/dryer having a cabinet defining an interior, a tub located within the interior with a first access opening, a rotatable drum located within the tub and having a rear wall defining a fan, a closure moveably mounted to the cabinet and selectively movable between open/closed positions to open/close at least one of the first and second access openings; an air recirculation conduit having an inlet fluidly coupled to a first portion of the treating chamber and an outlet fluidly coupled to a second portion of the treating chamber, which is different than the first portion, and a condenser fluidly coupled to the recirculation conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Roy E. Masters
  • Patent number: 11802360
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Gianluca Bocchino, Roy E. Masters, Arun Rajendran
  • Patent number: 11795596
    Abstract: A combination washer/dryer machine has a cabinet with a tub and drum positioned in the cabinet. The drum is rotatably positioned in the tub. A heater is secured to the tub. The heater includes a duct to provide heated air from the heater. The duct is coupled with the tub to supply heated air to the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Roy E. Masters
  • Patent number: 11739472
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a drum for processing laundry. A blower delivers process air through an airflow path that includes the drum. A lint filter is positioned within the airflow path that separates particulate matter from the process air. A lint disposal mechanism removes entrapped lint particles from a surface of the lint filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Jordan Grider, Alexander Halbleib, Christopher A. Jones, Roy E. Masters, Jr., Rodney M. Welch, Anthony B. Welsh, Erica L. Roberts, Thomas Kessler
  • Publication number: 20230220601
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance for treating laundry according to an automatic cycle of operation includes a cabinet defining a cabinet interior. A drum is rotatable within the cabinet interior, and at least partially defines a treating chamber. The treating chamber has a treating chamber air inlet and a treating chamber air outlet. A drying air circuit is fluidly coupled to the treating chamber air inlet and to the treating chamber air outlet. The laundry treating appliance can include first and second air temperature sensors, at least a first humidity sensor, and a controller operably coupled with the sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2023
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Inventor: ROY E. MASTERS
  • Patent number: 11697901
    Abstract: A door assembly for selectively opening and closing an access opening to a treating chamber of a laundry treating appliance includes an inner door wall and an outer door wall adjacent to the inner door wall, wherein the outer door wall and the inner door wall at least partially define an internal volume. The inner door wall includes a portion that is configured to extend at least partially into the treating chamber when the door is closed, and includes an air inlet and an air outlet. The door assembly is configured such that the internal volume is in fluid communication with an airflow inside the treating chamber when the door assembly is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Roy E. Masters
  • Publication number: 20230151527
    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: January 23, 2023
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gianluca Bocchino, Roy E. Masters, Arun Rajendran
  • Publication number: 20230140235
    Abstract: A method of controlling load volume in a laundry drying appliance where a load of wet laundry is place in a drum of the laundry drying appliance and the load volume of the wet laundry is sensed or determined according to the method. A condition of the drum of the laundry drying appliance is actively monitored and a determination is made if a proper load volume is present in laundry drying appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Roy E. MASTERS, JR., Arun RAJENDRAN
  • Patent number: 11634857
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance for treating laundry according to an automatic cycle of operation includes a cabinet defining a cabinet interior. A drum is rotatable within the cabinet interior, and at least partially defines a treating chamber. The treating chamber has a treating chamber air inlet and a treating chamber air outlet. A drying air circuit is fluidly coupled to the treating chamber air inlet and to the treating chamber air outlet. The laundry treating appliance can include first and second air temperature sensors, at least a first humidity sensor, and a controller operably coupled with the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Roy E. Masters
  • Patent number: 11603615
    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: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Gianluca Bocchino, Roy E. Masters, Arun Rajendran
  • Patent number: 11585032
    Abstract: A method of operating a laundry treating appliance having a drum, and an air conduit fluidly coupled to the drum, with a heat source associated with the air conduit, includes moving air through an air conduit to the drum; heating the moving air by operating the heat source; and introducing atomized liquid into the air conduit upstream of the heat source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Roy E. Masters, Arun Rajendran
  • Patent number: 11519129
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a drum for processing laundry. A blower delivers process air through an airflow path that includes the drum. A lint filter is positioned within the airflow path that separates particulate matter from the process air to define entrapped lint particles. A lint disposal mechanism removes the entrapped lint particles from a surface of the lint filter to define removed lint. A holding compartment receives the removed lint for disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Roy E. Masters, Brian K. Rogers, Robert J. Pinkowski, Erica L. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20220364294
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance comprising a combination washer/dryer having a cabinet defining an interior, a tub located within the interior with a first access opening, a rotatable drum located within the tub and having a rear wall defining a fan, a closure moveably mounted to the cabinet and selectively movable between open/closed positions to open/close at least one of the first and second access openings; an air recirculation conduit having an inlet fluidly coupled to a first portion of the treating chamber and an outlet fluidly coupled to a second portion of the treating chamber, which is different than the first portion, and a condenser fluidly coupled to the recirculation conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventor: ROY E. MASTERS
  • Publication number: 20220341081
    Abstract: A horizontal mount laundry treatment machine having a housing and a drum inside the housing, the drum defining a treatment chamber configured to spin laundry placed therein. A front ring assembly surrounds an opening of the treatment chamber. At least one counterweight is mounted to the front ring assembly or positioned between a front surface of the front ring assembly and a fascia that substantially covers the front ring assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Mohsin M. Attar, Kurt L. Masciovecchio, Roy E. Masters, Jason R. Spears, Michael Vriezema
  • Patent number: 11452964
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a tub having a rear wall. A drum is rotationally operable within the tub. An air flow path extends through an air flow port defined within the rear wall. A lint filter is positioned within the air flow port. A fluid spray system extends through the rear wall and directs a flow of fluid over the air flow port and the lint filter in a direction generally parallel with an inside surface of the rear wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Roy E. Masters, Arun Rajendran
  • Patent number: 11427953
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance comprising a combination washer/dryer having a cabinet defining an interior, a tub located within the interior with a first access opening, a rotatable drum located within the tub interior and defining a treating chamber with a second access opening, aligned with the first access opening, an air recirculation conduit, and a condenser fluidly coupled to the recirculation conduit and having at least two fluidly connected condensing chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Roy E. Masters