Abstract: A clothes dryer has a system for regulating the inlet air temperature. The system includes a first sensor located in an inlet of the dryer and including a thermistor and a thermostat, a heat source located in a heater box adjacent the first sensor, and a second sensor located in an exhaust of the dryer. The thermistor measures the inlet air temperature of the dryer and cooperates with the controller to prevent the thermostat from reaching its trip temperature and turning off the heat source. Thus, damage due to excessive air temperatures in the dryer is prevented.

Abstract: A cabinet dryer door includes a truss attached to the door to establish seal compression for adequate sealing of the door against the drying cabinet. The inner door has spacers molded into the inner door. The truss cooperates with the spacers to bias the door against the seal. The drying cabinet may utilize a pair of doors with at least one having a truss that establishes a seal compression in both of the doors. The truss is joined to the inner door by a screw located in the center of the truss. The method has the step securing a truss member to the door and curving the door to create a biasing force.

Abstract: An improved coin box assembly is provided for a coin operated laundry appliance. The assembly includes a mounting bracket mounted in the cabinet of the appliance, a vault mounted within the mounting bracket, and a coin box mounted within the vault. The mounting bracket and vault provide double-wall protection for the coin box so as to inhibit prying. The assembly further includes external and internal plates sandwiching the front wall of the coin box to prevent cutting of the front wall of the coin box. A freely-spinning washer is mounted between the front plate and the front wall of the coin box to preclude a hole saw from cutting out the lock cylinder of the coin box.

Abstract: An automatic washer comprises a remote sump fluidly connected to a drain pump and a recirculation pump, and a separator comprising an array of regularly-spaced fins oriented upstream of the recirculation pump for intercepting foreign objects in wash liquid. The remote sump also comprises a wash liquid heater. The separator is automatically purged when the drain pump is operated.

Abstract: A front-loading type clothes washing machine comprises a washing tub, a drum which is rotatable within said washing tub about a horizontal or inclined center of rotation and capable of containing the items to be washed, a door assembly for closing the tub and an annular bellow-type gasket interposed between the door assembly and the washing tub. The washing machine further comprises a safety device having a sensor disposed in the zone of the annular gasket and adapted to detect when at least an item of laundry is present in said zone, in order to prevent any possible damage to such item of laundry.

Abstract: A mounting bracket is provided for a pump of a washing machine. The bracket includes a body adapted to twist lock mount onto the base of the washing machine. The pump is adapted to twist lock mount onto the body of the bracket. The bracket includes one or more dampers to dampen vibrations generated by the pump during operation so as to produce a quiet operating washing machine.

Abstract: A method for controlling the program of a washing machine comprises the recording of the amount of water supplied to the tub of the washing machine, the assessment of the amount of free water present in the tub (T), the evaluation of the amount of water absorbed by the load by subtracting the amount of free water from the amount of water supplied to the tub (T), the estimate of the specific absorption of the load based on the water absorbed and on free water, and the calculation of a load equivalent based on the specific absorption and on the amount of water absorbed by the load, such load equivalent being related to the load in the machine and being used for controlling the program thereof.

Abstract: A method of determining an imbalance condition in a horizontal axis washing machine comprises several steps, including establishing a speed profile for the washing machine, having at least three increasing speed steps, operating a motor to rotate the washing machine drum sequentially through the three speed steps, measuring the power output of the motor at each speed step, calculating an average power output by averaging the power output at the first and second speed steps, calculating the difference between the power output at the third step and the average power output, comparing the difference to a predetermined threshold difference value, and sending a signal indicative of an imbalance condition if the difference exceeds the threshold difference value.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses consistent with the present invention provide for improved clothes rollover in automatic washer cycles using time-varying rotor oscillations. An automatic washer has a wash chamber with a central axis and a rotor being rotatable about the central axis. Items are loaded into the wash chamber. Wash liquid is supplied into the wash chamber. The rotor is oscillated about the central axis by time-varying oscillations.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatuses and methods for filtering a signal. A first processing device receives a first control signal and a first feedback signal and transmits a first error signal as a function of those signals. A second processing device receives the first error signal and transmits a second control signal as a function of the first error signal, a deadband, and a gain factor. A third processing device receives the second control signal and the first feedback signal and transmits an output signal as a function of those signals. A fourth processing device receives the output signal and transmits the first feedback signal as a function of the output signal to the first processing device and the third processing device, the first feedback signal being substantially equal to the output signal delayed by a first predetermined duration of time.

Abstract: A magnetic shunt device for use in a Hall effect sensor application wherein the shunt device is positioned and located relative to the Hall effect element and is shaped and dimensioned so as to shield and null the influence of the magnetic field when such field is substantially parallel to the sensitive plane of the Hall effect element. The present shunt device ensures that the null output voltage of the Hall effect element in a particular sensor application is consistent for a large number of such sensors despite misalignment problems and mechanical uncertainties in accurately arranging the magnetic devices that generate the magnetic field relative to the Hall effect element at the null or “no action” position of the sensor. The present device also obviates the requirement to use additional electronic circuitry to adjust the output voltage of the Hall effect element at the null or “no action” position.