Abstract: Disclosed is a laundry treating appliance having a drum and a torsionally flexible drive mechanism. The drum simultaneously rotates in a first rotational direction and oscillates about an axis of rotation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a laundry treating appliance having a drum and a torsionally flexible drive mechanism. The drum simultaneously rotates in a first rotational direction and oscillates about an axis of rotation.

Abstract: A method for determining the amount of laundry in a laundry treating appliance comprises a drum defining a treating chamber for receiving the laundry and a motor for rotating the drum that may be operated to simulate a spring to oscillate the drum relative to a predetermined rotational position. The angular decay of the drum relative to the predetermined position may be determined and used to determine the amount of laundry.

Abstract: Disclosed is a laundry treating appliance having a drum and a torsionally flexible drive mechanism. The drum simultaneously rotates in a first rotational direction and oscillates about an axis of rotation.

Abstract: A method for determining the amount of laundry in a laundry treating appliance comprises a drum defining a treating chamber for receiving the laundry and a motor for rotating the drum that may be operated to simulate a spring to oscillate the drum relative to a predetermined rotational position. The angular decay of the drum relative to the predetermined position may be determined and used to determine the amount of laundry.

Abstract: A reciprocating hermetic compressor includes a cylinder block internal to a shell and carrying a cylinder and a radial bearing hub; a crankshaft vertically mounted in the radial bearing hub and carrying, inferiorly, a rotor of an electric motor and, superiorly, a support annular face and an eccentric portion. The radial bearing hub incorporates an upper tubular extension, bearing a corresponding extension of the crankshaft and around which is mounted an axial rolling bearing for supporting the weight of the crankshaft-rotor assembly, as well as the axial stresses produced during compression of the refrigerant gas.

Abstract: A suction and discharge valve arrangement for a small hermetic compressor of the type presenting a compression cylinder (1), which has an end closed by a valve plate (10) and which has a suction pipe (5) adjacent to the valve plate (10) and substantially orthogonal to the cylinder axis, the valve plate (10) being provided with a discharge orifice (11) substantially centralized in relation to the axial projection (20) of the internal contour of the compression cylinder (1), and with at least one suction orifice (12), which is internal to said axial projection (20) of the internal contour of the compression cylinder (1), and defining at least part of the extension of a suction passage (P), with an end opened to the inside of the compression cylinder (1) and an opposite end opened and connected to the suction pipe (5) by means of a transition portion (T), which is configured to minimize load losses.

Abstract: A piston stroke limiting device for a reciprocating compressor of the type including a piston (2) reciprocating inside a cylinder (3), which is closed by a cylinder head (4) and defines, between the latter and the top of the piston (2), a compression chamber (5), said device comprising: a driving element (40) provided in one of the parts defined by the piston (2) and the cylinder head (4) and projecting to the inside of the compression chamber (5), in order to touch the other of said parts when the piston (2) surpasses a predetermined nominal position at the end of the compression stroke; and a relief valve (60), which is selectively displaced from a closed condition, in which it is seated on a respective valve seat (51) defined in a relief passage (50) communicating the compression chamber (5) with a region of the compressor subject to a substantially lower operational pressure, to an open condition, by action of the driving element (40), when the piston (2) surpasses said predetermined nominal position at t

Abstract: A suction and discharge valve arrangement for a small hermetic compressor of the type presenting a compression cylinder (1), which has an end closed by a valve plate (10) and which has a suction pipe (5) adjacent to the valve plate (10) and substantially orthogonal to the cylinder axis, the valve plate (10) being provided with a discharge orifice (11) substantially centralized in relation to the axial projection (20) of the internal contour of the compression cylinder (1), and with at least one suction orifice (12), which is internal to said axial projection (20) of the internal contour of the compression cylinder (1), and defining at least part of the extension of a suction passage (P), with an end opened to the inside of the compression cylinder (1) and an opposite end opened and connected to the suction pipe (5) by means of a transition portion (T), which is configured to minimize load losses.

Abstract: A piston stroke limiting device for a reciprocating compressor of the type including a piston (2) reciprocating inside a cylinder (3), which is closed by a cylinder head (4) and defines, between the latter and the top of the piston (2), a compression chamber (5), said device comprising: a driving element (40) provided in one of the parts defined by the piston (2) and the cylinder head (4) and projecting to the inside of the compression chamber (5), in order to touch the other of said parts when the piston (2) surpasses a predetermined nominal position at the end of the compression stroke; and a relief valve (60), which is selectively displaced from a closed condition, in which it is seated on a respective valve seat (51) defined in a relief passage (50) communicating the compression chamber (5) with a region of the compressor subject to a substantially lower operational pressure, to an open condition, by action of the driving element (40), when the piston (2) surpasses said predetermined nominal position at t