Patents Represented by Attorney Frank P. Giacalone
  • Patent number: 4643386
    Abstract: A high side portion of a refrigeration system is supported on a support member which includes a drop-in rotary compressor mounting arrangement wherein the compressor is resiliently supported in a containment area with its axis in a vertical position. The mounting arrangement includes a vibration isolating support member located in the containment area having a plurality of spring cylinders which when interposed between the compressor and support member results in a desirable bulging of the cylinder walls which provides torsional and vertical vibration isolation of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Gary L. Chastine
  • Patent number: 4640105
    Abstract: This invention relates to centrifuging machines, and more particularly to vertical axis washing machines, wherein improved vibration-isolating devices are provided to prevent unbalance-caused vibrations of the movable mass from being transmitted to the support structure of the machine to the extent that damage to or "walking" of the machine may occur.A suspension system is provided for suspending the movable mass above the machine support structure. The suspension system is formed by a plurality of circumferentially spaced spring members supported at the lower ends to the support structure. The springs are connected at their upper ends to a support member. The suspension system for supporting the movable mass on the support member includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced links which extend in the general direction of the vertical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1987
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gerald J. Kushner, Daniel N. Toma
  • Patent number: 4637230
    Abstract: This invention relates to automatic clothes washing machines, and more particularly to an improved structure in such machines for affecting the washing of very small loads of clothing in a high detergent concentration. The clothes washing machine has wash, rinse and spin extraction operations including an outer imperforate tub, an agitator, a first basket within the tub, a second smaller basket disposed within the first basket and positioned on the agitator for movement therewith. There is also a water supply for feeding water into the machine, drive system for operating the agitator to effect washing of clothes and for rotating the basket to centrifugally extract water from the clothes. Water is allowed to flow from the basket to the tub and then recirculated through a filter and into the baskets. The recirculation system is controlled wherein only a predetermined volume of water is transferred from the outer tub to the small basket by the recirculation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1987
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Gerald L. Roberts
  • Patent number: 4637231
    Abstract: This invention relates to automatic clothes washing machines, and more particularly to an improved structure in such machines for affecting the washing of very small loads of clothing in a high detergent concentration. The clothes washing machine has wash, rinse and spin extraction operations including an outer imperforate tub, an agitator, a first basket within the tub, a second smaller basket disposed within the first basket and positioned on the agitator for movement therewith. There is also a water supply for feeding water into the machine, drive system for operating the agitator to effect washing of clothes and for rotating the basket to centrifugally extract water from the clothes. Water is allowed to flow from the basket to the tub and may be recirculated from the tub into the baskets. The improvement is a controlled recirculation system wherein only a predetermined volume of water is transferred from the outer tub to the small basket by the recirculation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1987
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stephen L. McMillan, Alvin Akers, Daniel N. Toma
  • Patent number: 4633850
    Abstract: A domestic cooking appliance vent system including a first vertical vent conduit communicating with the oven, extending through a support plate, and a second vertical conduit that is located above the first conduit but horizontally offset therefrom. A horizontal adapter duct positioned in a locating area on the support plate joins the first vent conduit with the second vent conduit. The adapter duct includes a continuous side wall, a top wall forming an open bottom positioned over the first vertical duct and a top vent opening in one end of the top wall communicating with the second vertical conduit. The support area and adapter duct is dimensioned so that its position in the locating area insures that the top vent opening in the adapter duct is axially aligned with the second vertical conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1987
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ralph G. Hawkins, George Fields, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4633770
    Abstract: A variable discharge grille assembly is arranged in an air discharge opening of a room air conditioner. The assembly includes a frame surrounding the air discharge opening and a louvered air deflecting grille arranged in the frame. The louvered air deflecting grille is pivotally supported on the air discharge opening frame, and a built-in stop feature keeps the grille from coming out of the frame during operation. The position variations of the air deflecting grille relative to the air discharge opening frame is accomplished by a rachet arrangement that includes a yieldable finger on the grille which snaps into detents formed on the frame surrounding the air discharge opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1987
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Larry D. Taylor, David A. Reel, Gene R. Renfro
  • Patent number: 4632470
    Abstract: A refrigerator cabinet having an outer metal case including side walls and a top wall, a plastic inner liner and a partition separating a freezer and fresh food compartments and separate front door openings. A front face is formed along the front edge of the side walls and top wall defining the door openings. The front face along each side wall is provided with a first pair of vertically spaced openings arranged in the area adjacent the partition and a lower pair of vertically spaced openings arranged in the lower end of the front face. A support frame system is provided including vertically extending side support bars, each having pairs of vertically spaced upper and lower openings dimensioned to align with the upper and lower openings in the front face. An upper cross member extending between the side walls is positioned adjacent the front portion of the partition and a lower cross member extending between the lower edge portion of the side walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1986
    Assignee: General Electric
    Inventors: Thomas E. Jenkins, Donald S. Cushing
  • Patent number: 4620425
    Abstract: In a hermetic compressor there is provided a resilient retainer member adapted to removably secure a thermal overload protector relative to the compressor casing. The overload protector is arranged in a housing which is adapted to engage the upper wall of the casing. The retainer member includes one end portion dimensioned to engage the housing whereby downward pressure on the retainer member secures the overload protector relative to the casing. The overload protector housing is formed to include a pair outwardly projecting leg members. A slot formed on one of the legs aligns with an opening in the other leg are engageable by a tool which is employed to exert an external force on the housing sufficient to allow removal and replacement of the thermal protector housing relative to the retainer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1986
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Norman J. O'Grady
  • Patent number: 4606112
    Abstract: A refrigerator cabinet having an outer metal case including side walls and a top wall, a plastic inner liner and a partition separating a freezer and fresh food compartments and separate front door openings. A front face is formed along the front edge of the side and top wall defining the door openings. The front face on each side wall is provided with a pair of vertically spaced openings. A support bar including a pair of vertically spaced openings dimensioned to align with the openings in the front face is secured relative to the front face adjacent each side wall. A cross member extending between the side walls is positioned adjacent the front portion of the partition. The cross member includes a pair of vertically spaced openings adjacent each end thereof which are cooperatively arranged relative to the pair of vertically spaced openings in the front face and support bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1986
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas E. Jenkins, Robert R. Sisler
  • Patent number: 4594481
    Abstract: An electrical switch panel including a switch actuating assembly is disclosed for intermittently altering the electrical condition of a switch. A base member is formed to include a plurality of chambers each dimensioned for receiving and retaining the electrical switch actuating assembly is positioned on a support member carrying the switch. An insulative tactile film is arranged on the base pad providing a touch area covering the chamber openings. An axially movable member disposed in the chamber is operable by movement of the film to engage a cantilever switch actuating member whereby the axial movement of the film transmitted through the axially movable member causes an amplified movement of the cantilever switch actuating member which is effective in altering the electrical condition of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1986
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Donald W. Wilham, Richard A. Rowe
  • Patent number: 4571517
    Abstract: In a hermetic compressor there is provided a resilient retainer member adapted to removably secure a terminal receptacle block assembly and a thermal overload protector relative to the compressor casing. The receptacle block assembly is adapted to engage conductor pins of an electrical terminal secured to the upper wall of the casing while the overload protector is adapted to engage the upper wall of the casing. The retainer member includes a first leg portion dimensioned to engage the thermal overload protector and a second leg portion dimensioned to engage the terminal receptacle block whereby downward pressure on the retainer member secures both the overload protector and terminal receptacle block relative to the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1986
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Gary L. Chastine
  • Patent number: 4535600
    Abstract: A temperature control system for a refrigerator including a roll-bonded evaporator in the fresh food compartment in which is formed a non-refrigerant carrying passageway extending the full width of the evaporator. A temperature control located in the compartment includes a temperature sensitive capillary tube portion extending substantially the full length of the passageway so as to be subjected to the limited environment of the passageway and accordingly responsive to the true temperature of the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1985
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Robert B. Gelbard
  • Patent number: 4534179
    Abstract: In a self-contained air conditioner unit of the reversible refrigeration type having cooling and heating cycles, a no-drain heat pump is provided wherein in the heating cycle, water collected on the outdoor heat exchanger operating as the system evaporator is transferred to the indoor section. The condensate is directed into the indoor air flow where it is atomized and directed through the relatively warm indoor heat exchanger operating as a condenser to humidify the air. Control means are provided which produces a signal in the event the condensate when present is not being transferred to the indoor section during the heating cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1985
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: George E. Stocking, Walter J. Pohl
  • Patent number: 4510362
    Abstract: A wire rack construction designed to be used in a microwave oven in spaced relationship with the flat bottom wall of the oven. The wire rack is provided with upwardly and downwardly projections which are arranged such that when the rack is placed on the flat bottom wall of the oven the rack will tilt at a steep angle to thereby discourage its use in the oven when it is not arranged in its design position relative to the bottom wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1985
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Matthew S. Miller
  • Patent number: 4509335
    Abstract: A refrigerator including two compartments, one of which is maintained at a temperature above freezing and the other of which is maintained at a below freezing temperature. The refrigerator cabinet is divided into the two compartments by a divider that is slidably received in support grooves in the side walls of the cabinet. A self-contained pre-assembled air circulating and cooling module is arranged on the rear wall of the cabinet and the divider installed so that air circulated through the pre-assembled module is proportionally divided between the compartments in amounts sufficient to maintain the compartments at the preselected temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1985
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James R. Griffin, James A. White
  • Patent number: 4509687
    Abstract: A dishwashing machine including upper and lower dish supporting racks and a liquid wash spray assembly having a rotating arm for spraying water upwardly on the lower dish load and an extendable top wash tube which sprays liquid at an intermediate level between the upper and lower dish supporting racks in the machine. A liquid diverting system provides means for automatically alternating the flow of water between the rotating spray arm and the extendable top spray tower. Water is directed continuously to a jet port on the spray arm which insures that the arm will continue to rotate independent of the liquid diverting system when the water is diverted to the top spray tower. The spray arm and tower each deliver effective water flow on an alternating basis while the overall flow rate and the total water consumption is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1985
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Donald S. Cushing
  • Patent number: 4508987
    Abstract: In a hermetic compressor there is provided a resilient retainer member adapted to removably secure a terminal receptacle block assembly and a thermal overload protector relative to the compressor casing. The receptacle block assembly is adapted to engage conductor pins of an electrical terminal secured to the upper wall of the casing while the overload protector is arranged on a substantially flat portion of the upper wall of the casing. The retainer member is arcuately shaped with its downwardly diverging end portions adapted to engage the receptacle block and thermal protector respectively. A downward force on the apex of the retainer member forces its end portions to securely hold the receptacle block in electrical contact with the conductor pins and thermal protector in intimate contact with the upper wall of the compressor casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1985
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: William T. Ladusaw
  • Patent number: 4497183
    Abstract: A unitary refrigerator compressor and auxiliary condenser assembly adapted to be installed in the machinery compartment of a domestic refrigerator. The assembly includes a serpentine portion of the auxiliary condenser having an inlet and outlet end connected to the compressor, and a container supported on the serpentine portion for providing evaporation of water collected in the container. The serpentine portion of the condenser and container are in intimate heat exchange contact by virtue of adhesive bonding between the two components, and are resiliently supported on the base member so as to vibrate in unison with said compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1985
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert B. Gelbard, Bernard J. Grimm, William D. Irish
  • Patent number: 4493976
    Abstract: A cooking oven of the heat-cleaning type in which substantially all of the energy for heating the oven to heat-cleaning temperature is initially supplied by the upper or broil heating element. The broil unit is initially energized to raise the oven cavity temperature to the heat cleaning range during which time volatile portions of food by-products are evaporated, whereupon the broil unit is de-energized and the lower or bake heating element energized to maintain the temperature of the oven cavity in the heat cleaning range. The location of the lower bake unit relative to the lower wall of the oven cavity is dimensioned to insure that the temperature of the more difficult to clean front portion of the lower wall of the oven adjacent the door opening is maintained at heat-cleaning temperature for a time sufficient to effect removal of food by-products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1985
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Arthur C. Wilson
  • Patent number: 4490990
    Abstract: This invention relates to a refrigerator and more particularly to providing a unitary high-side refrigeration system component unit which can be adapted for mounting in machinery compartments of different designs. Essentially, the unitary high-side refrigeration component unit is designed so that selected high-side components forming refrigeration systems of varying capacities may be assembled as a part of the unit or interchanged to be accommodated in machine compartments of different designs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1985
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gary L. Chastine, Norbert P. Haag