With Drum Or Receptacle Enclosing Housing Patents (Class 34/595)
  • Patent number: 11952703
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a washing machine configured to rotate a cylindrical drum formed by processing a metal sheet about a horizontal axis. The drum includes a lifter, formed by processing the metal sheet, respectively provided at a plurality of points spaced along a circumferential direction, when viewed from a front side. The lifter includes a front lifter which is formed by protruding the metal sheet into the drum, and pressurized to be extended in a longitudinal direction of the drum, and a rear lifter disposed in a rear side of the front lifter. The rear lifter is disposed to form a certain phase angle with respect to the front lifter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jaehyun Kim, Kayeon Kim, Junghoon Lee, Myunghun Im, Kyungchul Woo, Seonhwa Yu, Hwanjin Jung
  • Patent number: 11891750
    Abstract: A dryer appliance may include a cabinet, a drum, an additive dispensing assembly, and a controller. The drum may define a drying chamber for receipt of clothes for drying. The additive dispensing assembly may be positioned within the cabinet and configured to selectively provide a dryer additive to the drying chamber. The controller may be in operable communication with the additive dispensing assembly. The controller may be configured to initiate a drying operation. The drying operation may include obtaining washer operating parameters from a washing machine appliance, determining an occurrence end time of a washing operation occurrence based on obtaining washer operating parameter, initiating a dry cycle for a laundry load following obtaining the washer operating parameters, and directing a supplemental dispensing action of the dryer additive at the additive dispensing assembly based on the occurrence end time of the washing operation occurrence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Jose Efren Rodriguez Munoz
  • Patent number: 11766659
    Abstract: The production method includes a drying step of drying a particulate crosslinked hydrogel polymer obtained by polymerizing a monomer, which is a material of a water-absorbent resin, using a heating device to obtain dried particles. The heating device includes: a rotary container that contains the particulate crosslinked hydrogel polymer therein and rotates; and a plurality of heating tubes that are located within the rotary container, extend in an axial direction of the rotary container, and rotate together with the rotary container. A gel temperature of the particulate crosslinked hydrogel polymer to be subjected to the drying step, the gel temperature being measured by a contact thermometer, is not lower than 50° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: NIPPON SHOKUBAI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Watabe, Mai Sato, Ryota Wakabayashi, Yoshihiro Shobo, Shin-ya Katsube, Motohiro Imura, Koji Honda, Shin-ichi Fujino, Kunihiko Ishizaki, Tokio Shuto
  • Patent number: 11566364
    Abstract: A laundry treating apparatus includes: a drum and a lifter that is disposed at an inner circumferential surface of the drum, that revolves, and that includes a frame cover and a lifter frame including (i) a frame base coupled to the inner circumferential surface of the drum and including a seating groove provided along a circumference of the frame base, (ii) a frame upper plate spaced apart from the frame base, and (iii) a frame sidewall connecting the frame upper plate to the frame base. The frame cover includes a cover upper plate and a cover sidewall having a lower end mounted on the seating groove to couple to the frame base and an upper end connected to the cover upper plate. A drain hole is defined at the seating groove and provides fluid communication between an upper surface and a lower surface of the frame base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sunghoon Kim, Jeongho Kim, Byung Jin Lee
  • Patent number: 11542648
    Abstract: Disclosed are an object treating apparatus, and more particularly, an object treating apparatus for heating a drum using an induction heater and a control method thereof. The object treating apparatus includes a tub; a drum rotatably disposed within the tub and accommodating an object therein; an induction heater disposed on the tub and configured to heat an outer circumferential face of the drum contacting the heater; a motor to rotate the drum; and a processor configured to control an operation of the induction heater to dry the object, wherein the processor is configured to control revolution per minute (RPM) of the drum to perform, during drying: a conductive accelerating motion having a target RPM in which the object rotates integrally with the drum while the object is in close contact with an inner circumferential face of the drum; and a rearrangement motion having a target RPM lower than the target RPM of the conductive accelerating motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hyunwoo Noh, Sangwook Hong
  • Patent number: 11492747
    Abstract: A laundry treatment apparatus, including a framework and a shell arranged on the framework, the shell includes a front plate provided with a clothes delivery opening, the front plate is a whole plate-shaped structure covering the front surface of the laundry treatment apparatus, an upper edge of the front plate is bent downwards to form a first installation surface, and atop of the front plate is fixed on the framework through the first installation surface. The front plate is an integrally formed integral plate-shaped structure covering the front surface of the laundry treatment apparatus, so that the laundry treatment apparatus has an integral whole appearance. The front plate and the framework are stably fixed into a whole, and gaps are prevented from being formed in the front, the back and two sides of the front plate of the laundry treatment apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignees: QINGDAO HAIER DRUM WASHING MACHINE CO., LTD., HAIER SMART HOMEM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wenwei Li, Zhiwei Zhao, Benfu Xing, Shaolei Yi, Leilei Ai, Jihui Pan
  • Patent number: 11479905
    Abstract: Disclosed are an object treating apparatus, and more particularly, an object treating apparatus for heating a drum using an induction heater and a control method thereof. The object treating apparatus includes a tub; a drum rotatably disposed within the tub and accommodating an object therein; an induction heater disposed on the tub and configured to heat an outer circumferential face of the drum contacting the heater; a motor to rotate the drum; and a processor configured to control an operation of the induction heater to dry the object, wherein the processor is configured to: control revolution per minute (RPM) of the drum to perform at least two drum motions having at least two different target RPMs respectively when drying the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hyunwoo Noh, Sangwook Hong
  • Patent number: 11421372
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a drum that processes laundry. A blower delivers process air from a heater to the drum via an airflow path. A structural panel defines a front aperture for accessing an interior of the drum and an air channel that defines a portion of the airflow path. The structural panel includes a lower first portion that is made of a first material and an upper second portion that is made of a second material that is different from the first material. The first and second materials meet at a predetermined seam that extends through the structural panel and the air channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Antonio Mazzarella, Samir Nimkar, Pedro A. Rouin, Gianbattista Pirola
  • Patent number: 11346036
    Abstract: A door assembly for a washing machine appliance includes an outer door frame, an inner door frame, and two reinforcement brackets positioned between the outer door frame and the inner door frame on opposite sides of the door assembly. The outer door frame defines a boss and the reinforcement bracket defines an expandable sleeve received within the boss. A mechanical fastener passes through the inner door frame and into the expandable sleeve to increase a diameter of the expandable sleeve to engage the boss and join the inner door frame, the reinforcement brackets, and the outer door frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Haler US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Raymond Mora, Venkata Chakradhar Rangu
  • Patent number: 10640911
    Abstract: A method of controlling a drying cycle for drying delicate laundry in a laundry drying apparatus, in particular in a dryer or in a washer-dryer, wherein the laundry drying apparatus has a cabinet, a rotatable drum adapted to receive laundry to be dried, and a drying air channel arrangement designed to guide drying air through the drum for drying the laundry in the drum. The drying air is heated by a heating element and a blower is arranged in the channel arrangement adapted to convey the drying air. A drum motor is adapted to rotate the drum selectively in a main rotation direction (58) and in a counter rotation direction (66). The method includes a drying phase sequence (60) having a first drying phase (62) and subsequently a second drying phase (64). In the first drying phase (62) the drum is rotated alternately in the main and the counter rotation direction (58, 66) while the drying air is conveyed at a first average flow rate through the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag
    Inventor: Michele Bisaro
  • Patent number: 10506912
    Abstract: A dishwasher appliance includes a vent duct that is positioned within a door. A tub channel is separate from an ambient channel within the vent duct. An insert is positioned within the vent duct. The insert and the vent duct collectively define an outlet of the tub channel and an outlet of the ambient channel. The insert is positioned between the outlet of the tub channel and the outlet of the ambient channel along a transverse direction. The outlet of the tub channel and the outlet of the ambient channel each have a width along a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the transverse direction. The width of the outlet of the tub channel may be about equal to the width of the outlet of the ambient channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Kopera, Justin James Brolley
  • Patent number: 10465332
    Abstract: The invention relates to a condenser tumble dryer with a drum for articles to be dried, a drive motor for the drum, a process air duct, a process air blower, a heating and cooling system for the process air, a temperature sensor and a control device. The temperature sensor is an infrared telescope and is arranged to simultaneously measure heat radiation from at least two components of the condenser tumble dryer which are to be monitored. The invention also relates to a method for operating a condenser tumble dryer of said type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Marcus Simon, Johannes Eichstädt, Maike Blanken
  • Patent number: 10181245
    Abstract: A dryer vent monitor device includes a temperature sensor coupled to a dryer exhaust pipe to measure a temperature inside the dryer exhaust pipe. A differential air pressure sensor is coupled at an input connection between a dryer and the exhaust pipe and at an output connection between the dryer exhaust pipe and an outdoor vent. The differential air pressure sensor measures a differential air pressure between the input connection and the output connection. A transceiver communicates with a monitoring system registered with the dryer vent monitoring device. The dryer vent monitoring device compares both the temperature and the differential air pressure with a preset threshold, determines that at least one of the temperature and the differential air pressure exceed the preset threshold, and generates an alert signal in response to determining that at least one of the temperature and the differential air pressure exceed the preset threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Nortek Security & Control LLC
    Inventor: David Alan Krula
  • Patent number: 10132021
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance door assembly comprises a plastic fishbowl. Typically, laundry treating appliances, such as dryers, have door assemblies comprising glass fishbowls. Utilizing plastic enables a fishbowl to have a sharper radius of curvature than that of a glass fishbowl due to manufacturing constraints of glass. A shaper radius of curvature allows for greater capacity in the treating chamber in a laundry treating appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ethan Harbrecht, Douglas Mikkelsen, Christoph Miller, Joel Sells, Prasath M. Thirukonda
  • Patent number: 9907451
    Abstract: A dishwasher drying system includes an air inlet configured to receive hot, humid air from a tub of a dishwasher. The dishwasher drying system also includes an air outlet configured to discharge the air to an ambient environment outside the dishwasher. The dishwasher drying system further includes an air moving device configured to cause the air to move from the air inlet to the air outlet. In addition, the dishwasher drying system includes a thermal storage heat exchanger positioned within an airflow path of the moving air, the thermal storage heat exchanger configured to absorb heat and condense moisture from the moving air as the moving air contacts the thermal storage heat exchanger during a dishwasher drying cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Guolian Wu, Raveendran Vaidhyanathan
  • Patent number: 9863085
    Abstract: A laundry machine is disclosed. The laundry machine is provided with a discharge part arranged in a drum not only to cause movement of the laundry in the drum but also to directly supply, to the laundry, the air supplied to the drum through an air supply unit when the drum rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Yongho Shin, Sangik Lee
  • Patent number: 9657430
    Abstract: A condensing type clothes dryer having a heat pump cycle is provided that may include a drum in which an object to be dried may be accommodated; a circulation duct that forms a circulation passage such that air may circulate via the drum; and a heat pump cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Yongju Lee, Byeongjo Ryoo, Jongseok Kim
  • Patent number: 9513013
    Abstract: A manifold assembly having a plurality of controls for a domestic kitchen appliance is provided. The assembly includes a structural frame; an esthetic skin fixed to the structural frame; at least one clamp; and a control panel including the plurality of controls, the control panel being replacably removably clamped to the structural frame by the at least one clamp. The structural frame provides structural support for the skin and the control panel, and the structural frame includes control panel locating features that locate the control panel relative to the skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: BSH Home Appliances Corporation
    Inventors: George May, Michael Penuel
  • Patent number: 9487910
    Abstract: A clothes dryer and a control method thereof are provided. The clothes dryer includes an air circulation system and a refrigerant circulation system, the refrigerant circulation system includes a compressor, a condenser, a throttling element and an evaporator; the air circulation system includes a filter device, an air circulation power fan and a roller, and the refrigerant circulation system does not include a subcooler; the clothes dryer further includes a controller, a temperature sensor or a temperature-sensing element, and a temperature and humidity sensing element; the controller is configured to control an operation of the refrigerant circulation system, the operation of the clothes dryer includes a temperature rise phase and a basic drying phase, and the compressor of the clothes dryer is configured to have a higher power consumption in the temperature rise phase than in the basic drying phase, to rapidly rise a temperature in the clothes dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Hangzhou Sanhua Research Institute Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Linjie Huang, Yanhong Wang, Hongzhou Dong
  • Patent number: 9372031
    Abstract: An appliance for drying laundry includes a drying-air moisture-condensing system including a heat pump system with a variable-output compressor, and at least one drying air variable-speed fan for promoting the recirculation of the drying air. The appliance is adapted to perform at least one laundry drying cycle in: at least a first drying mode wherein the compressor is driven to a first compressor mode having a compressor power consumption course and/or a compressor rotational speed course and/or a frequency course of the supply current/voltage of the compressor motor and the fan is driven to a first fan mode having a speed course, and at least a second drying mode wherein the compressor is driven to a second compressor mode comprising a compressor power consumption course and/or a compressor rotational speed course and/or a frequency course of the supply current/voltage of the compressor motor and the fan is driven to a second fan mode having a speed course.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V.
    Inventors: Andrea Contarini, Massimo Viero
  • Patent number: 9249538
    Abstract: A laundry treatment apparatus, in particular a dryer (2a) or washing machine having a drying function, includes a cabinet having a front wall, a rear wall, side walls and a base section. The base section has an internal side facing the interior of the cabinet and an external side exposed to the outside of the cabinet. A laundry storing chamber for treating laundry using process air (A), a process air loop for circulating the process air through the laundry storing chamber, and a heat pump system for dehumidifying and heating the process air are also provided. The heat pump system has a refrigerant loop comprising: a first heat exchanger (10) for heating a refrigerant and cooling the process air (A), a second heat exchanger (12) for cooling the refrigerant and heating the process air, a refrigerant expansion device, a compressor, and an auxiliary heat exchanger (13). The auxiliary heat exchanger (13) is arranged at the external side of the base section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V.
    Inventors: Alberto Bison, Francesco Cavarretta, Massimiliano Vignocchi
  • Patent number: 9009987
    Abstract: A clothing dryer capable of effectively drying a small amount of substance, and a control method thereof by changing an algorithm of a sensor-dry course, which is configured to control an operation rate, a degree of drying or a temperature of drying, to be adapted to the small load of substance in a case where the substance to be dried has a small load when compared to the entire volume of the clothing dryer, so that the drying efficiency is enhanced regardless of the load of the substance, and a separate option button is provided for a sensor-dry course, so that a small load of substance is dried adaptively to the material characteristic of the substance for a respective dry course, thereby enhancing the drying efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyung Woo Lee, Hee Beom Park, Ja Young Kim, Sang Oh Yoo
  • Patent number: 8973286
    Abstract: Dryers and methods of using dryers are described herein. The dryer includes a housing, a drying chamber disposed within the housing, and a heating element. The dryer further includes an intake configured to supply intake air to the drying chamber. The dryer includes an exhaust configured to vent exhaust air out of the drying chamber. The dryer includes a pump coupled to the housing. The dryer further includes an energy recovery system coupled to the housing. The pump is configured to reduce the air pressure within the drying chamber. The energy recovery system includes a heat transfer fluid and is configured to use the heat transfer fluid to transfer thermal energy from the exhaust air to the drying chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Thomas A. Weaver, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20150020399
    Abstract: A laundry drying apparatus having a cabinet including a front panel with an opening for introduction and removal of laundry, a drying drum horizontally installed within the cabinet, and an air supply device to collect air from inside the drying drum, direct the air through ducts, and then return the air into the drying drum. The front panel includes an upper region where a door is installed and a lower region located below the upper region, and the upper region is tilted rearward by a predetermined tilt angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sanghun BAE, Hongjun CHO
  • Patent number: 8910397
    Abstract: A method for estimating the temperature of a laundry load in a treating chamber of a laundry dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Enrico Bellinetto, Davide Colombo, Paolo Crosta, Fedrico Visconti
  • Patent number: 8844160
    Abstract: A modular system according to one embodiment of the invention for treating a fabric load comprises a first module and a second module. The first module can include a chamber having an interior for holding a fabric load, and the second module can have at least one of a fluid delivery system, a fluid removal system, and a fluid recycling system. The modular system can further include conduits for coupling the systems of the second module with the first module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce C. Beihoff, Karl D. McAllister, Janice M. Kaeding, Tremitchell Wright, Alexander V. Minkin, Joel A. Luckman, Colleen M. Doyle
  • Publication number: 20140237849
    Abstract: A dryer appliance is provided. The dryer appliance includes a drum that defines a chamber for receipt of articles for drying and a heating assembly for generating heated air for the chamber of the drum. A duct extends between and fluidly connects the chamber of the drum and the heating assembly. The duct includes outlets for directing heated air from the heating assembly into the chamber of the drum and also includes features for reducing temperature gradients at outlets of the duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ionelia Silvia Prajescu, Richard Dustin Henderson, Daniel John Kelly
  • Publication number: 20140230270
    Abstract: A drum washing machine having an improved air circulation structure thereof. The drum washing machine includes a cabinet, a tub arranged within the cabinet, a drum rotatably arranged within the tub, a drying unit which heats and circulates air discharged from the tub so as to dry laundry within the drum, the drying unit including a drying duct equipped with a heater to heat air therein, a circulation passage provided such that air circulates between the tub and the inside of the drying duct, and a suction member which is coupled to one side of the drying duct and introduces air outside the tub onto the circulation passage, and a discharge member which is coupled to one side of the tub and discharges part of the air in the circulation passage to the outside of the cabinet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Hyung Sub LIM, Min Hee Kang, Seok Geun Bae, Sang Oh Yoo
  • Patent number: 8800164
    Abstract: In a washing machine, a power management apparatus and a method of controlling the same, washing operation and drying operation commands are input by a user, power rate information for each time period is received from an EMS, a drying operation execution time is confirmed, and power rates corresponding to the drying operation execution time are determined based on the power rate information for each time period. Then, the power rates corresponding to the drying operation execution time are compared with the standard power rates to determine whether the power rates corresponding to the drying operation execution time are higher than the standard power rates, and an algorithm of a final spinning mode in the washing operation is adjusted if the power rates corresponding to the drying operation execution time are higher than the standard power rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun Sook Kim, Eun Suk Bang
  • Patent number: 8800165
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a laundry machine having a drying function for drying an object to be dried, especially clothes. In the laundry machine according to one embodiment of the present invention, lint and the like that may be contained in the hot air are removed by the filter, whereby the lint and the like can be prevented from being piled on the duct. Also, the filter is placed in a way that it is exposed into the tub, whereby the filter can be cleaned automatically while it is being driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Ig Geun Kwon, Sangwook Hong, Youngsuk Kim, Hyunseok Seo
  • Patent number: 8793899
    Abstract: A closed cycle dryer comprises a drum, an air blowing unit wherein the air is conveyed to the drum, a heating unit used to heat the air that is blown into the drum, and a condensing unit upstream the heating unit for removing moisture. The dryer further comprises a by-pass between a first portion of the air circuit downstream the condensing unit and a second portion downstream the drum in order to increase the energy efficiency of the drying process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Willy Kroeger, Ralf Haselmeier
  • Patent number: 8769840
    Abstract: The recirculating dryer includes a housing having an operator control panel and a locking door mounted to a side of the housing. A rotating tumbler for holding the laundry to be dried is mounted inside the housing. Heated air is introduced through an inlet of the tumbler, and the outlet is kept closed by a flap. The heated air is recirculated and recycled through the tumbler. The air is reheated back to a predetermined temperature if the temperature falls below a level suitable for drying. A layer of moisture-absorbent material surrounds the tumbler to absorb the moisture gathered in the air from the drying process. At drying completion, the flap is opened to vent the used air. A control system controls various features with data from a thermostat and a moisture detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: Memhet Dondurur, Ahmet Z. Sahin
  • Patent number: 8739433
    Abstract: A household appliance (100) comprises a cabinet (105) accommodating a drum for loading items to be dried and a drying air circuit for circulating drying air through the drum for drying the items therein. The drying air circuit comprises air heating elements (415) for heating the drying air fed to the drum, and the cabinet is provided with a worktop (110) defining a surface (130) having a plurality of apertures (135) in fluid communication with an air conveying system (205,225,230) adapted to deliver a flow of air through said apertures. The air conveying system comprises an air duct (230) thermally coupled to the air heating elements in such a way as to cause heat generated by the air heating elements to heat the air to be delivered through the apertures in the drying surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V.
    Inventors: Daniele Da Riol, Luciano Sartor, Michele Bisaro, Massimo Castiglione
  • Publication number: 20140123514
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method of operating a laundry treating appliance treating laundry according to a cycle of operation having by determining a parameter indicative of a change in packing density of the laundry in a treating chamber and taking an operating action based on the determined parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: FARHAD ASHRAFZADEH, RYAN R. BELLINGER
  • Patent number: 8707579
    Abstract: In a method for operating an adsorption dryer, a process air flow, generated by at least one blower, is routed at least at times through an adsorption apparatus and over a textile goods in care during a textile care process in a “dry” operating mode to thereby charge a reversibly dehydratable adsorbent of the adsorption apparatus with moisture. A charge state of the adsorbent with water is detected and is displayed at least after the end of the “drying” textile care process. The absorbent is desorbed at least in part during a subsequent, selected and started textile care process in a “refresh” operating mode, and the desorbed moisture is routed as a moist process air flow into a receptacle for refreshing textile goods which are stored or hung in a stationary manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Kohlrusch, Ulf Müller, Andreas Stolze
  • Patent number: 8701309
    Abstract: A dryer and a control method thereof, in which load of an object to be dried is detected using a sensor which has less risk of contamination and an anticipated drying time based on the detected load is accurately determined and displayed. The dryer includes a rotatable drum to accommodate the object, a front support installed at an entrance of the drum to support the drum, a rear support installed at an opposite side of the entrance of the drum to support the drum, an exhaust hole formed in the front support, through which interior air of the drum is discharged, and a humidity sensor installed to the front support at a position adjacent to the exhaust hole, the humidity sensor being located upstream of the exhaust hole in a rotating direction of the drum to detect humidity of the air to be introduced into the exhaust hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hee Beom Park, Phil Soo Chang, Hyung Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 8695228
    Abstract: A composite washing system is disclosed which is capable of continuously circulating laundry-drying air through dryers while obtaining a more efficient drying effect, so that the composite washing system has a suitable built-in structure having minimal influence on the indoor environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Deug Hee Lee, Hung Myong Cho, Byung Hwan Ahn, Soung Bong Choi, Young Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 8695230
    Abstract: A control method of a dryer is disclosed. A control method of a dryer including a heat pump having a inverter compressor includes determining a driving condition of the dryer; and adjusting at least one of an electric power supplied to the inverter compressor and a driving velocity of the compressor based on the driving condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hyun Woo Noh, Yong Ju Lee, Sang Ik Lee
  • Patent number: 8689463
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing lint from air that is discharged from a clothes dryer uses a lint filtration housing mounted on the frame of the clothes dryer, the filtration housing having an interior that contains a filter for removing lint from the dryer exhaust air flow stream. The housing provides an influent fitting for transmitting heating exhaust air from the drying chamber to the housing interior. An ambient air supply enables ambient air to be added to the filtration housing interior. One or more vanes is provided that create an annular vortex within the filtration housing interior. The flow of the annular vortex within the filtration housing interior can be between about 500 and 3,000 cubic feet per second. A flow line transmits pre-heated air from the filtration housing interior to the dryer interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Pellerin Milnor Corporation
    Inventor: Russell Poy
  • Patent number: 8689462
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a steam laundry drier, and more specifically to a steam laundry dryer capable of removing or preventing crease or wrinkle occurring in cloth, etc. and capable of improving assembling efficiency by easily mounting a steam generator provided to remove the crease or the wrinkle and a water supply source supplying water to the steam generator in the inside of the steam laundry drier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sang Hun Bae, Dong Geun Lee, Seon Il Heo, Yeon Sik Choi, Ju Han Yoon
  • Patent number: 8677785
    Abstract: A laundry machine includes a first laundry treatment space configured to receive laundry therein, a second laundry treatment space configured to receive laundry therein, and an air supply unit configured to supply air to the second laundry treatment space, the air supply unit comprising a fan, a heating part, a first sensor part for sensing a temperature of air supplied by the air supply unit, and a control part for controlling a temperature of the supplied air to be within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dong Joo Han, Young Bok Son, Jae Yoen Lim, Jong Chul Bang, Ki Chul Cho, In Ho Cho
  • Patent number: 8667702
    Abstract: A domestic appliance includes an open air duct and a flow cross-section adjuster in the air duct for adjusting a flow cross-section of the air duct. The flow cross-section adjuster includes rotatably mounted blades for noise dampening purpose. The air duct and the flow cross-section adjuster are in a cooling air inflow region relative to a heat exchanger or a compressor of the domestic appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerate GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Ediger, Thomas Nawrot, Werner Nühse
  • Patent number: 8667705
    Abstract: A clothes dryer having a lint cleaning device to collect and store lint generated during drying through a simple structure. The lint cleaning device, including a filter, a rectilinear blade performing a rectilinear motion to collect lint, and a rotary blade performing a rotary motion interlocking with the rectilinear motion of the rectilinear blade to collect lint, collects lint at a spot and stores the collected lint in a compressed state. The lint cleaning device is used for a long time without replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang Bong Shin, Sung Jin Park, Jin Wook Yoon
  • Patent number: 8656604
    Abstract: A condensation dryer includes a housing having a wall area which forms a rear side, and a process air circuit for circulating process air. The process air circuit has a first section outside the housing and running along the wall area and a remaining second section inside the housing. The first section which is located at the wall area is formed by a profile part placed on the wall area and is covered by a hood placed in sealing fashion on the wall area. A fan is arranged in the process air circuit for circulating the process air, and a drying chamber is arranged in the process air circuit for holding objects to be dried. A heat pump is disposed in the housing and includes a heat sink which is thermally coupled to the process air circuit, and a heat source, which is thermally coupled to the process air circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Ediger, Thomas Nawrot
  • Patent number: 8650770
    Abstract: This invention is a method and apparatus for drying wet objects, comprising passing air through the wet objects thereby having air absorb moisture from said wet objects; compressing the air adiabatically, thereby heating it; extracting heat from the air by passing it through the hot side of a heat exchanger thereby cooling it; expanding the air adiabatically, thereby cooling it further, below its dew point; separating the condensate from the air; restoring to the air all or part of the heat by passing it through the second side of the heat exchanger; and redirecting all or part of the air back to the wet objects thereby forming a loop in the flow of the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Inventor: George Samuel Levy
  • Patent number: 8631586
    Abstract: A clothes dryer includes a hollow housing having a hinged door. A perforated drum is mounted for rotation within the housing and in alignment with the door aperture and is rotatable by an electric motor. An electrically operable oil-filled radiator is positioned within a bottom portion of the hollow housing and below the rotating drum and is connectable to a source of conventional household electrical power for generating radiant heat upon supply of the electrical power. The heat rises through the perforated rotating drum for drying wet clothes contained therein. The invention also provides a novel child safety device which is positioned within the door aperture for preventing passage of the child therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Inventor: Pierre Carol Leroy
  • Patent number: 8615898
    Abstract: A dryer is provided. The dryer may include a main body having an inner space formed therein, a support body arranged in the main body so as to form a frame of the main body, a flexible drum rotatably installed on the support body so as to have a non-circular cross-section as it is rotated, and rotation guides arranged between the support body and the flexible drum so as to guide rotation of the flexible drum. A distance from a center of rotation of an inscribed circle contacting the inner circumferential surface of the flexible drum to one random point on the inner circumferential surface of the flexible drum is greater than a distance from the center of rotation of the inscribed circle to another point on the inscribed circle such that the drum maintains a non-circular cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sungmin Kim, Jongseok Kim, Daeyun Park, Sogkie Hong
  • Patent number: 8601719
    Abstract: A duct for a dryer includes an intake duct provided with a discharge part formed with a discharge hole for discharging air therethrough and a coupling hole formed around the discharge part; and a contact prevention part seated in the coupling hole and spaced apart from the discharge part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Ju Dong Lee, Chang Hoo Kim
  • Patent number: 8595954
    Abstract: A clothes treating apparatus includes a drum, an air suction unit forming a flow path of air introduced into the drum, an air exhaustion unit forming a flow path of air exhausted from the drum, a condenser heating air sucked into the drum through the air suction unit, an evaporator cooling air exhausted from the drum through the air exhaustion unit, a compressor compressing refrigerant introduced from the evaporator, and a variable expander expanding a refrigerant introduced from the condenser, and having a variable open degree. An operation method includes measuring a temperature of a refrigerant into the evaporator, and a temperature of a refrigerant into the compressor, and decreasing an open degree of the variable expander when a temperature difference between the two measured temperatures is less than a predetermined first value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hyuksoo Lee, Sungmin Ye, Byeongjo Ryoo
  • Patent number: 8590172
    Abstract: A dehumidifying apparatus is provided for a dryer, the dryer including a case; a drum disposed inside the case that receives objects to be dried therein; and a hot air supplying device that supplies hot air into the drum and dry the objects to be dried. The dehumidifying apparatus includes a plurality of dehumidifying devices, and is thereby capable of controlling humidity of exhausted air to a required level of humidity by removing moisture contained in air exhausted from the plurality of dehumidifying devices in multiple steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Seung-Phyo Ahn, Sang-Ik Lee, Byeong-Jo Ryoo, Sung-Ho Song, Jeong-Yun Kim, Yang-Hwan Kim, Jae-Hyuk Wee, Dong-Hyun Kim, Yoon-Seob Eom, Yang-Ho Kim