Bottom Drive Patents (Class 68/133)
  • Patent number: 11959217
    Abstract: The portable clothes-washing machine is an electromechanical device. The portable clothes-washing machine is configured for use with one or more garments. The portable clothes-washing machine cleans the one or more garments. The portable clothes-washing machine comprises a housing structure, a fluid network, and a control circuit. The housing structure contains the fluid network and the control circuit. The control circuit controls the operation of the portable clothes-washing machine. The fluid network handles the flow of clean water and gray water through the portable clothes-washing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Inventor: Aliya Widener
  • Patent number: 11926952
    Abstract: A laundry treating apparatus includes a tub, a drum, and a rotator, wherein the rotator includes a bottom portion positioned on the bottom surface, a pillar protruding from the bottom portion toward the open surface, and a blade protruding from an outer circumferential surface of the pillar, wherein the blade includes a plurality of blades disposed to be spaced apart from each other along a circumferential direction of the pillar. The blade extends from the bottom portion toward the open surface along a direction inclined with respect to a longitudinal direction of the pillar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dongcheol Kim, Youngjong Kim
  • Patent number: 11873603
    Abstract: A laundry treating apparatus includes a tub, a drum, and a rotator, the rotator includes a bottom portion positioned on a bottom surface, a pillar protruding from the bottom portion toward an open surface, a blade protruding from an outer circumferential surface of the pillar, and a cap coupled to an end of the pillar facing toward the open surface, and the blade is constructed such that one end thereof faces toward the bottom portion and the other end thereof faces toward the open surface, and the other end thereof is disposed on the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dongcheol Kim, Youngjong Kim
  • Patent number: 11781262
    Abstract: A driver assembly of a top-loader washer includes: a bearing housing provided under an outer tub and having a bolt screwed into a lower surface of the bearing housing, a stator provided under the bearing housing and defining a first hole, a clutch stopper interposed between the bearing housing and the stator and defining a second hole, a first sleeve coupled to the first hole, and a second sleeve coupled to the second hole. The bolt is inserted into the first sleeve through the first hole and into the second sleeve through the second hole to fasten the bearing housing, the clutch stopper, and the stator and the second sleeve is spaced apart from the bearing housing based on the first sleeve and the second sleeve being fastened to and in contact with each other by a fastening force of the bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Young Woo Hong, Doyoung Rhyu
  • Patent number: 11773525
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a drum that is rotationally operable about a rotational axis within a tub. The rotational axis is oriented in a generally horizontal configuration. An impeller is rotationally operable within the drum about the rotational axis. A dual-rotor motor is coupled to the drum and the impeller for providing separate and independent rotation of the drum and impeller about the rotational axis. An inner rotor of the dual-rotor motor is coupled with the impeller and an outer rotor of the dual-rotor motor is coupled with the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Krati Bhargava, Fang Deng, James B. Hull, Wang Jun, Dennis Kehl, Weitao Yang
  • Patent number: 11713529
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance may include a tub, a basket, an impeller base, and an extended post. The impeller base may be rotatably mounted within the basket. The impeller base may include an impeller platform and a mounting face defined on the impeller platform. The mounting face may define a recessed cup. The extended post may be removably attached to the impeller base to rotate therewith. The extended post may define an interior cavity. The extended post may include a mating collar and an attachment piston. The mating collar may be on the bottom end in selective engagement with the mounting face at the recessed cup. The attachment piston may include a piston flange extending radially outward at an upper piston end and define an upper radial contact surface in selective engagement with a portion of an inner surface of the mating collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Owen Davis
  • Patent number: 11686029
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance or agitator may include an impeller base and an extended post. The impeller base may define a rotation axis and include one or more impeller fins and a mating collar. The mating collar may be disposed radially inward from the impeller fins and extend along the rotation axis. The extended post may be removably attached to the impeller base to rotate therewith. The extended post may include a base body, an auger fin, an overmolded bottom bracket, and a connector bolt. The base body may extend between a bottom end proximal to the impeller base and a top end distal to the impeller base. The auger fin may extend radially from the base body. The overmolded bottom bracket may be disposed on the base body. The connector bolt may attach the extended post to the impeller base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: John Joseph Roetker, Ryan Persaud
  • Patent number: 11585031
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance may include a tub, a basket, and a retractable agitation element. The basket may be rotatably positioned within the tub. The retractable agitation element may be positioned within the basket. The retractable agitation element may define a rotation axis. The retractable agitation element may include a lower shaft, an upper shaft, and a resilient fin. The upper shaft may be slidably mounted on lower shaft in telescoping cooperation to move axially along the rotation axis. The resilient fin may be movably attached to the lower shaft apart from the upper shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Brad Herschler, Eric Gerard Johnson
  • Patent number: 11499259
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes an outer cabinet having a top panel that defines an aperture for accessing an interior of the cabinet. A tub is positioned within the outer cabinet and below the aperture. A rotating drum disposed within the tub. A pretreat basin is selectively positioned in an installed position relative to the top panel and above the drum. The pretreat basin has an outer frame and a pivoting central portion that rotationally operates within the outer frame between a sealed position defined by the pivoting central portion being in alignment with the outer frame and a rotated position defined by the pivoting central portion being rotated out of alignment with the outer frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Seth E. Bixby, Sayer J. Murphy, Giuseppe Netti, Jun Young Park, Jeremy D. Watkins
  • Patent number: 11474694
    Abstract: A display control method for a sliding block in a touch screen. The display control method includes: determining whether a sliding block is in a static state; detecting a region, in a touch screen, where the sliding block is located; setting the icon of the sliding block according to the detection result and the state of the sliding block; if the sliding block is currently in a static state, determining whether a touch point of the touch screen is on the sliding block, and if yes, displaying the icon of the sliding block in brightened fashion; if the sliding block is currently in a static state and the touch point is on the sliding block, playing a touch prompt tone; and detecting whether the sliding block is being dragged, and if yes, playing a drag prompt tone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignees: QINGDAO HAIER WASHING MACHINE CO., LTD., Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yanfen Lv, Sheng Xu, Jinzhu Deng, Hai Shu
  • Patent number: 11434596
    Abstract: A drum type washing machine capable of realizing weight reduction and improvement in washing performance at low cost is provided. A drum type washing machine is disclosed. A pulsator is installed rotatably at a bottom of the drum rotatably accommodated in a tub. A motor configured to rotate forward and backward rotationally drives the drum and the pulsator. A control device executes a washing mode in which the motor is driven at a low rotation and a spinning mode in which the motor is driven at a high rotation. The pulsator and the drum have different velocity ratios. A second drive transmission element of the pulsator includes a clutch. Based on executing the washing mode, the drum is rotationally driven while the pulsator is rotationally driven or is allowed to idle. Based on executing the spinning mode, the drum is rotationally driven while the pulsator is allowed to idle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Ohyagi, Takehiro Nakanishi, Tomoyuki Okuno, Yasushi Urai
  • Patent number: 10988885
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a rotatable basket that defines a treating chamber, a tub for mounting the rotatable basket, a drive assembly mounted to the tub for rotating the basket and a drive motor mounted to the tub for driving the drive assembly. The tub has a lower region comprising a central cavity and a second cavity. The drive assembly is nested in the central cavity and the drive motor is nested in the second cavity for reducing the vertical stack of tub and the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Eric K. Farrington, Karl David McAllister, Brenner M. Sharp
  • Patent number: 10920359
    Abstract: A laundry washing machine agitator having a base and an elongated hollow body provided with at least one opening for the admission of washing liquid. The base has a plurality of radial openings located in the radial periphery of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: ELECTROLUX DO BRASIL S.A.
    Inventors: Marcelo Piekarski, Luiz Carlos Pazinato, Fabiano Costi, Oscar Luiz Madalena, Eduardo Orthmann, Eduardo De Menezes Lino Modesto, Vicente Marconcin Vanhazebrouck, Adriano Bonatto Cardozo
  • Patent number: 10907293
    Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a rotating drum that receives laundry to be treated. A motor rotates a drive shaft about a vertical axis and engages the rotating drum at a base. A coupler is disposed within an upper portion of the base and that rests upon the drive shaft to transfer rotational forces from the drive shaft to the drum. A lower portion of the base engages an outer surface of the shaft to resist moment forces that are exerted against the drive shaft in an off-axis direction relative to the vertical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas C. Fugal, Bradley D. Morrow, Joseph C. O'Connor, Prabhath KV, Jason S. Sabel, Christine L. Strain, Meredith A. Wagner, Robert C. Williams
  • Patent number: 10888250
    Abstract: A system for measuring the flow rate of an airflow exhaled or inhaled by a person includes a measuring apparatus and a device. The device includes a tubular pipe for guiding the airflow and a structure with a plurality of ducts configured to separate the airflow. The device further includes a first groove opening into the outer face of the wall of the tubular pipe and a component for communicating fluidically with at least one peripheral duct in the structure. A second groove, distanced from the first groove, opens into the outer face of the wall of the tubular pipe and includes a component for communicating fluidically with the at least one peripheral duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: FIM MEDICAL
    Inventor: Benjamin Hannes
  • Patent number: 10865508
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a washing machine including an outer tub which accommodates wash water, an inner tub which is disposed in the outer tub to accommodate laundry, and which rotates around a vertical axis, a motor which provides torque, an outer shaft which has a hollow, and which rotates the inner tub, an inner shaft which rotates inside the hollow by the motor, a pulsator which is disposed in the inner tub and is connected to the inner shaft, and a clutch which is screw-coupled to the inner shaft in the hollow formed at the outer shaft, and which is engaged with the outer shaft so as to be raised by the rotation of the inner shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jeonguk Lee, Seyoung Woo, Taehee Lee, Joonho Pyo
  • Patent number: 10793990
    Abstract: A method of controlling a washing machine includes rotating a motor for driving an inner shaft in a first direction, and aligning a clutch to a reference position corresponding to one of a maximum lowered position and a maximum raised position. The motor is rotated by a preset reference alignment angle in a second direction to align the clutch from the reference position to a starting position corresponding to one of an upper limit and a lower limit of a preset agitating control section. The upper limit of the agitating control section is spaced downward by a first distance from the maximum raised position, and the lower limit of the agitating control section is spaced upward by a second distance from the maximum lowered position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Manho Chun, Jeonguk Lee, Taehee Lee, Joonho Pyo
  • Patent number: 10753027
    Abstract: Disclosed is a washing machine. The washing machine comprises an impeller, a decelerating clutch and an impeller connection assembly, wherein the decelerating clutch has a rotary shaft; and the impeller connection assembly is clamped and clamped and fixedly connected to the rotary shaft, so that the impeller is clamped and fixedly connected to the rotary shaft in a detachable way, thereby reducing the difficulties of the assembly and disassembly of the impeller, and prolonging the service life of the washing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: TCL INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGY (HEFEI) CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Lei Xi, Chouguo Zhou, Fei Zhao, Jian Wang, Xiaowei Xie
  • Patent number: 10655268
    Abstract: A laundry treatment apparatus includes a cabinet having first and second washing apparatuses that treat laundry introduced through a front opening and through a top opening, respectively. The second washing apparatus includes: a tub that holds water and has an opening at a top that is accessible through the second opening; a drum inside the tub that rotates about a vertical shaft; an agitation unit protruding upward from a center bottom surface of the drum that agitates water and laundry inside the rotating drum; a heater that heats water in the tub; a water supply valve controlling a flow of water into the tub; and at least one processor that controls the heater to heat a first amount of water in the tub to a first temperature; and controls the water supply valve to additionally supply, to the first amount of water, incremental amounts of water to into the tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jonegseok Jung, Hyunsang Kim
  • Patent number: 10655267
    Abstract: A laundry treatment apparatus includes a cabinet having first and second washing apparatuses that treat laundry introduced through a front opening and through a top opening, respectively. The second washing apparatus includes: a tub that holds water and has an opening at a top that is accessible through the second opening; a drum inside the tub that rotates about a vertical shaft; an agitation unit protruding upward from a center bottom surface of the drum that agitates water and laundry inside the rotating drum; a heater that heats water in the tub; a water supply valve controlling a flow of water into the tub; and at least one processor that controls the heater to heat a first amount of water in the tub to a first temperature; and controls the water supply valve to additionally supply, to the first amount of water, incremental amounts of water to into the tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jonegseok Jung, Hyunsang Kim
  • Patent number: 10077521
    Abstract: A washing machine capable of reducing power consumption comprising: a substantially bottomed cylindrical washing tank; a rotary wing rotatably and freely arranged at a bottom of the washing tank; and a driving unit for rotatably driving the rotary wing by being powered by electricity. The rotary wing is formed in a disc shape and centered on a rotary axis (Ra), and a plurality of stirring blades radially extending towards an outer circumference are arranged on a surface of the rotary wing. A center (Cw) of these stirring blades is set at a position more misplaced towards an outer diameter direction than the rotary axis (Ra), and a protrusion part more protruded towards an axial direction of the rotary axis (Ra) than the stirring blades is arranged at the center (Cw) of the plurality of stirring blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignees: HAIER ASIA INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD., QINGDAO HAIER WASHING MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tamotsu Kawamura, Tomohiro Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 10047468
    Abstract: An infuser with an integral coupler for use in automatic washing machines is described, wherein thanks to the outer geometry thereof, that is to say, thanks to the combination of the curvature of the blades on its front face and the concavity on its side faces, there is no need for the water to completely cover the textile clothes load, because it is in constant motion due to the generation of a strong stream going from the bottom to the top, resulting in a homogeneity in cleansing with a much less amount of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: MABE, S.A. DE C.V.
    Inventors: Santiago Alonso Plata Amarillas, Ramon Merino Cervantes, Omar Loza Guerrero
  • Patent number: 9994992
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a washing machine, which includes a clutch unit provided to be able to selectively transmit power generated from a drive unit to a drum and a pulsator. The clutch unit includes an outer shaft that is connected to the drum at an upper side thereof and rotates the drum, an inner shaft that is located in the outer shaft, is connected to the pulsator at an upper side thereof, and rotates the pulsator, and a one-way bearing that is installed between the inner shaft and the outer shaft. The one-way bearing selectively transmits a rotating force from the outer shaft to the inner shaft according to a rotating direction of the outer shaft. With this configuration, it is possible to simplify a structure of the clutch unit and to use space efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Young-Hyun Kim, Geun Kang, Jong Woon Park
  • Patent number: 9926658
    Abstract: A washing machine for treating laundry comprising a basket rotatable about a first rotational axis, having a peripheral side wall extending upwardly from a bottom wall to at least partially define a treating chamber; a clothes mover proximate the bottom wall, having a base with a centrally located hub concentric with a second rotational axis about which the clothes mover reciprocally rotates; and at least one vane having an elongated body extending away from the hub and projecting upwardly from the clothes mover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Darryl C. Bodine, David W. Carr, Dale E. Mueller, Basak Oguz, Jon D. Strait
  • Patent number: 9657422
    Abstract: A washing machine of the present invention includes: an inner tub receiving laundry; a pulsator rotatably disposed in the inner tub; and guides disposed on the pulsator and guiding washing water, which is turned circumferentially in the inner tub, to the rotational center axis of the inner tub by hitting against the washing water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jaeyong Jeong, Youngjong Kim, Kyubum Lee
  • Patent number: 9647507
    Abstract: A motor with one-way rotation including: a stator having a stator core, an upper insulator joined to the upper portion of the stator core, and a lower insulator joined to the lower portion of the stator core; a rotor having a rotor housing which includes a disc part having a hollow portion formed at the center and a side wall part vertically formed along the outer circumference of the disc part in the upward direction, and a plurality of magnets attached to the inner face of the side wall part of the rotor housing, the disc part having a one-way bearing seating portion formed around the hollow portion; a rotary shaft penetrating through the central portions of the stator and the rotor; and a one-way bearing having an outer wheel joined to the one-way bearing seating portion and an inner wheel joined to the rotary shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: NEW MOTECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jeong Cheol Jang, Gyeong Sik Yang
  • Patent number: 9556549
    Abstract: A washing machine for treating laundry comprising a basket rotatable about a first rotational axis, having a peripheral side wall extending upwardly from a bottom wall to at least partially define a treating chamber; a clothes mover proximate the bottom wall, having a base with a centrally located hub concentric with a second rotational axis about which the clothes mover reciprocally rotates; and at least one vane having an elongated body extending away from the hub and projecting upwardly from the clothes mover to terminate in a tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Darryl C. Bodine, David W. Carr, Dale E. Mueller, Basak Oguz, Jon D. Strait
  • Patent number: 9422656
    Abstract: A drum type washing machine includes a main tub having a main drum that rotates to wash laundry, a sub tub separate from the main tub and having a sub drum that rotates to wash laundry, and a clutch unit including a motor that provides a rotational force to at least one of the main drum and the sub drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: DONGBU DAEWOO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ju Dong Lee, Jeong Hyeon Kim, In Dong Kim, Hye Ung Kim
  • Patent number: 9347166
    Abstract: A washing machine for treating laundry comprising a basket rotatable about a first rotational axis, having a peripheral side wall extending upwardly from a bottom wall to at least partially define a treating chamber; a clothes mover proximate the bottom wall, having a base with a centrally located hub concentric with a second rotational axis about which the clothes mover reciprocally rotates; and at least one vane having an elongated body extending away from the hub and projecting upwardly from the clothes mover to terminate in a tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: David W. Carr, Dale E. Mueller, Basak Oguz, Jon D. Strait
  • Patent number: 9243360
    Abstract: An impeller for a washing machine appliance is provided. The impeller includes a stamped plate that is rotatable about an axis of rotation. The stamped plate also defines an opening at the axis of rotation. A mounting insert is received within the opening of the stamped plate in order to fix the mounting insert to the stamped plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lucius Levon Cole, David Scott Dunn
  • Patent number: 9115452
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance may include a drum and an impeller. The impeller may have a raised center, a bottom plate, a transition region between the bottom plate and the raised center, a center post extending upward from the raised center, and a plurality of radial protrusions extending along the raised center, the bottom plate, and the transition region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: David W. Carr, Joseph L. Moulton, Dale E. Mueller, Jon D. Strait
  • Publication number: 20150135778
    Abstract: Disclosed is a fully automatic washing machine for easily unloading washed laundry on a bottom surface of a washing tub, and more particularly, to a full automatic washing machine for easily unloading laundry by lifting the laundry from the bottom of the washing tub by lifting a pulsator at the bottom of the washing tub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Young Ho HAM, Young Shin PARK, Jin Sub YOUN, Ahn Chul JUNG
  • Patent number: 9021839
    Abstract: A motor for washing machines having a first insulator of the motor which surrounds a lower portion of a stator core of a stator of the motor and includes a ring-shaped mounting unit including a plurality of connection bosses so as to mount the stator on a tub of a washing machine, and at least one heat dissipation hole is provided on the mounting unit, thereby improving a cooling effect of the stator core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong Jin Lee, Woon Yong Lee, Myong Gui Choi
  • Publication number: 20150107308
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance may include a tub and a basket located at least partially within the tub and at least partially defining a laundry treating chamber. A drive system may operatively couple the tub to the basket and may be operative to rotate the basket about a rotational axis. The tub and the basket may each have a base with an effective stiffness, and the effective stiffnesses may be matched.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: BRENNER M. SHARP
  • Publication number: 20150061560
    Abstract: A washing machine and a control method thereof capable of determining whether a driving motor is locked. A pulsator is rotatably mounted in a spin basket, a driving motor generates rotational force, a clutch transmits the rotational force to the pulsator or the spin basket, a driving circuit supplies a driving current to the driving motor, and a control unit controls the driving circuit and the clutch so that the pulsator rotates in a forward or reverse direction and rotation of the spin basket is stopped in a washing or rinsing process. The control unit controls the driving circuit so that a motor lock detection current is supplied to the driving motor, and controls the clutch so that, if a rotating speed of the driving motor is less than a reference speed, the rotational force is transmitted only to the pulsator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seung Hun LEE, Sung Mo LEE, Jung Won CHOI
  • Publication number: 20150052954
    Abstract: A washing machine may include a static wash tub, a rotatable vertical axis wash basket in the static wash tub, and a drive motor for rotating the wash basket. A closure may direct wash liquid from the wash basket to a catch basin. A flange may be attached to the closure so that an unattached edge ends within the catch basin. The unattached edge may end below the surface of a first volume of wash liquid to minimize migration of wash liquid and/or vapor from the washing machine. The unattached edge may end above the surface of a second volume of wash liquid less than the first volume to minimize agitation of wash liquid in the catch basin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: DONALD E. ERICKSON, BRENNER M. SHARP
  • Publication number: 20150040620
    Abstract: A washing machine of the present invention includes: an inner tub receiving laundry; a pulsator rotatably disposed in the inner tub; and guides disposed on the pulsator and guiding washing water, which is turned circumferentially in the inner tub, to the rotational center axis of the inner tub by hitting against the washing water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Jaeyong JEONG, Youngjong Kim, Kyubum Lee
  • Publication number: 20150033803
    Abstract: A laundry mover for a laundry treating appliance may include a protrusion located on an upper side of the laundry mover and forming an open-bottom cavity. The protrusion may have at least one opening fluidly communicating the cavity with a portion of the treating chamber above the protrusion. A diverter may be located on a lower side of the laundry mover such that rotation of the laundry mover brings the diverter into contact with liquid in a portion of the treating chamber underneath the laundry mover, and the diverter directs the liquid through the cavity to expel the liquid through the at least one opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: DAVID W. CARR, DALE E. MUELLER, MARY E. ZEITLER
  • Publication number: 20150033802
    Abstract: A pulley has a plastic body having a peripheral seat and a central hub defining a through opening, with teeth extending from the central hub into the through opening. A metal insert is located within the hub and has at least a portion circumscribing the through opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: THOMAS D. KLEINMANNS, KURT WERNER
  • Publication number: 20150000352
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance may include a treating chamber receiving laundry for treatment and a laundry mover mounted within the treating chamber for rotation about a rotation axis. The laundry mover may have a base made of a first material and a plurality of protrusions made of a different second material. At least portions of the upper surfaces of the base and the protrusions collectively form an upper surface of the laundry mover such that the laundry mover upper surface is at least partially formed of the differing first and second materials. The first material may be metal, and the second material may be plastic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: DAVID W. CARR, JOHN W. MCCONNELL, BASAK OGUZ, JON D. STRAIT
  • Publication number: 20140345063
    Abstract: A laundry machine and a washing process allow the storage of water from prior washes, in order to minimize the consumption of water destined for laundry washing. According to an embodiment, the laundry machine includes an impeller (201); a wash tub (202); a mechanical and/or electric drive element of the impeller and of the tub; and at least a tank (203) encircling the wash tub. There is additionally a reservoir (300) in fluid communication (250) with the tank and disposed below the tank and the wash tub and encircling, at least partially, the mechanical and/or electric drive element of the impeller and the tub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: ELECTROLUX DO BRASIL S/A
    Inventors: Cirilo Alex Cavalli, Marcelo Piekarski
  • Publication number: 20140305173
    Abstract: “FLOATING BASKET AND CLUTCH APPLIED TO THE TOP LOADING WASHING MACHINE”, more particularly, the basket floating (1) and clutch (2) are applied to top loading washing machines (M), equipped with motor (M) and drive system which includes a drive shaft (E), pulley (P) and belt (Cr) and sealing device (V), assembled between the shaft (E) and the base of the tub (T); more precisely, the clutch (2) is responsible for commanding the operation of the oscillating movement of the agitator or “impeller” (AG), when in the washing operation (OPL) of fabrics and operating the high-speed spinning of the agitator (AG) and basket (1), when operating in centrifugation operation (OPC) of fabrics; the floating basket (1) is coupled and fixed to the tub (5) of the upper sector (S1) of the clutch (2) and the tub is fixed to the female lower crown (4) of the lower sector (S2) of the clutch (2); the floating basket (1) has vertical displacement (x) in relation to the tub (T), along the drive shaft (E) and according to presence or ab
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: ELECTROLUX DO BRASIL S/A
    Inventors: Rodrigo Strzelecki Berndsen, Felipe Augusto Scheer, Marcelo Piekarski, Cirilo Alex Cavalli, Alvaro Volpato Junior
  • Publication number: 20140230496
    Abstract: A washing machine includes a cabinet for forming the appearance, a tub provided in the cabinet, a drum rotatably provided in the tub, a pulsator rotatably provided in the drum, a driving motor mounted outside the tub, and rotating the drum and the pulsator, and a water flow forming means provided below the pulsator, and forming a water flow ejected into the drum as an upstream flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Kyubum Lee, Youngjong Kim
  • Patent number: 8782837
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a washing machine and a control method of the same. The control method includes detecting a position of a coupler coupled to a rotor of a drive motor in a first mode in which power from the drive motor is transmitted to a washing shaft and a spin-drying shaft and coupled to a rotation prevention unit of a water tub in a second mode in which the power from the drive motor is transmitted to the washing shaft, determining based on the position of the coupler whether the coupling of the coupler is abnormal, shaking the coupler at a present position or moving the coupler to a position before mode switching and shaking the coupler such that the coupler is moved to a position where the mode switching is to be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung Mo Lee, Jae Young Choi, Jung Won Choi
  • Publication number: 20140182066
    Abstract: Provided is a washing machine. The washing machine includes an outer tub holding wash water, an inner tub rotatably provided in the outer tub and receiving laundry, a pulsator rotatably provided in the inner tub, a power transmission shaft rotating the pulsator, a buoyancy clutch that that moves up and down by buoyancy created by the wash water and transfers, when the buoyancy clutch is in a lower position, rotational force from the power transmission shaft to the inner tub to allow the pulsator and the inner tub to rotate integrally with each other, a circulation passage that is provided on an outer portion of the outer tub to allow the wash water drained out of the outer tub to be returned into the outer tub, a pump provided on the circulation passage and a drain guide unit that directs the wash water under the buoyancy clutch to a drain hole of the outer tub so that the buoyancy clutch moves downward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2011
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Inventors: Jae Won Chang, Kyu Bum Lee, Young Jong Kim, Ae Kyung Chae
  • Publication number: 20140165661
    Abstract: A clutch positioning assembly for a washing machine appliance is provided. The assembly uses a cam that can be rotated so as to position the clutch between different positions that provide for engaging or disengaging a motor from a wash basket. A leaf spring, configured as a yoke in one exemplary embodiment, provides a force to urge the clutch into a position that e.g., disengages the wash basket from the motor during e.g., wash modes while also allowing the clutch to be moved into a position that engages the wash basket with the motor during spin modes. The clutch positioning assembly can be provided as a modular unit that is connected with the appliance during manufacturing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Edward Simeon Chupka, Stephen Bernard Froelicher
  • Publication number: 20140109627
    Abstract: Disclosed is a washing machine including an inner tub in which fabrics are accommodated, a fixing hub installed to the inner tub, a rotating shaft configured to penetrate the inner tub and the fixing hub, a sun gear installed to the rotating shaft and having a lower gear portion and an upper pulsator coupling portion, an inner pulsator coupled to the pulsator coupling portion, a plurality of planetary gears engaged with the gear portion and rotatably arranged on the fixing hub, a ring gear having an inner circumferential surface engaged with the planetary gears, a gear box coupled to the ring gear, and an outer pulsator coupled to the gear box, the outer pulsator being larger than the inner pulsator. As the inner pulsator and outer pulsator are rotated at different rates of rotation, complex 3D water stream may be created in the inner tub, resulting in enhanced washing ability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Kyubum LEE, Youngjong KIM, Sangjun LEE
  • Patent number: 8701450
    Abstract: A washing machine containing a tub and basket placed within the tub, a basket bottom, a driving shaft coupled to the basket, a motor coupled to the driving shaft, a propeller located within the bottom and impelled by an end of the driving shaft, the propeller containing a scrubber, a center and a support, the scrubbers have a transversal section made from at least three arch circumference sections; a lower face of the propeller has a fin, which along with the bottom, functions as a centrifugal pump creating a current or washing liquor flow which is led through the water tower. In a preferred embodiment, the driving shaft has a solar gear coupled thereto which rotates a satellite gear and over the upper face of the support and between the scrubbers a mini-propeller is provided, the satellite gear is coupled to an axis that rotates the mini-propeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Mabe, S.A. DE C.V.
    Inventors: Santiago Alonso Plata Amarillas, Raul Santillan Galvan, Jorge Vega Trejo
  • Publication number: 20140020433
    Abstract: A washing machine capable of reducing the manufacturing cost of a circulation device installed to circulate water and capable of preventing water from being scattered when spraying circulating water into a spin basket is described. A tub cover of the washing machine includes a guide part provided with a connector, which is integrated with the tub cover, connected with a circulation passage, and inclined upward toward the tub cover, and an inclined surface inclined toward the spin basket at an inner edge of the tub cover, thereby reducing the manufacturing of the circulation device and preventing water from being scattered. The washing machine includes a circulation drain port formed at a side surface of a tub and a filtering duct connected with the circulation drain port, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of the circulation device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dong Pil SEO, Sang Yeon PYO, Jae Ryong PARK, Byoung Yull YANG, Hwang Mook CHO, Tai Eun KIM, So Jung YU, Bo Kyung LEE
  • Publication number: 20130333424
    Abstract: A small size pulsator-type automatic washing machine comprises a housing, a control panel seat mounted on the top of the housing, a pedestal mounted at the bottom of the housing, an outer tub and an inner tub mounted inside the housing. A direct driving motor and a bearing block are mounted at the bottom of the outer tub. The motor is mounted on the outer tub by fixing elements, and a motor shaft is coupled with a pulsator shaft inside the bearing block. A fastener strap fixes the motor and the bearing block together onto the outer tub of the washing machine, thus reducing occupied space of the washing machine while improving a variety of installation mechanism of conventional washing machine. An insulation unit is disposed in the joint between the motor shaft and the tub shaft, such that the two parts cannot be in direct contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventors: Peishi Lv, Sheng Xu, Jie Liu, Xiaojie Pi, Yuling Chen