Patents by Inventor Gerd Maentele

Gerd Maentele has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9451869
    Abstract: A washing machine with a direct drive system including a tub, a drum rotatably mounted inside the tub, a shaft connected to the drum at a first end for transmission of a driving force of a direct drive motor, a coaxial support connected to a rear portion of the tub and having a first seat for a first bearing supporting a second end of the shaft opposite the drum, a stator secured to the coaxial support and having a plurality of magnetic cores, a rotor including permanent magnets and connected to the shaft, and a second bearing for supporting the shaft between the second end and the first end. The tub is made of polymeric material in which a second seat for said second bearing is co-molded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Gerd Maentele, Antonio F. Chiriatti, Pavol Petracek, Kurt Werner
  • Publication number: 20140097230
    Abstract: A washing machine with a direct drive system including a tub, a drum rotatably mounted inside the tub, a shaft connected to the drum at a first end for transmission of a driving force of a direct drive motor, a coaxial support connected to a rear portion of the tub and having a first seat for a first bearing supporting a second end of the shaft opposite the drum, a stator secured to the coaxial support and having a plurality of magnetic cores, a rotor including permanent magnets and connected to the shaft, and a second bearing for supporting the shaft between the second end and the first end. The tub is made of polymeric material in which a second seat for said second bearing is co-molded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: GERD MAENTELE, ANTONIO F. CHIRIATTI, PAVOL PETRACEK, KURT WERNER
  • Patent number: 8616029
    Abstract: A washing machine with a direct drive system including a tub, a drum rotatably mounted inside the tub, a shaft connected to the drum at a first end for transmission of a driving force of a direct drive motor, a coaxial support connected to a rear portion of the tub and having a first seat for a first bearing supporting a second end of the shaft opposite the drum, a stator secured to the coaxial support and having a plurality of magnetic cores, a rotor including permanent magnets and connected to the shaft, and a second bearing for supporting the shaft between the second end and the first end. The tub is made of polymeric material in which a second seat for said second bearing is co-molded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Gerd Maentele, Antonio Francesco Chiriatti, Pavol Petracek, Kurt Werner
  • Publication number: 20100307202
    Abstract: A washing machine with a direct drive system including a tub, a drum rotatably mounted inside the tub, a shaft connected to the drum at a first end for transmission of a driving force of a direct drive motor, a coaxial support connected to a rear portion of the tub and having a first seat for a first bearing supporting a second end of the shaft opposite the drum, a stator secured to the coaxial support and having a plurality of magnetic cores, a rotor including permanent magnets and connected to the shaft, and a second bearing for supporting the shaft between the second end and the first end. The tub is made of polymeric material in which a second seat for said second bearing is co-molded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: GERD MAENTELE, ANTONIO FRANCESCO CHIRIATTI, PAVOL PETRACEK, KURT WERNER
  • Patent number: 7254970
    Abstract: The invention relates to a laundry treatment machine, more especially a washing machine or a laundry dryer, comprising a drivable drum which accommodates laundry and is rotatably mounted in a container integral with the housing, wherein the container is provided with an elastic sleeve, covering the transition from the front opening of the container to the housing opening, around the filler opening of the drum, and wherein a laundry rejector is attached in this transitional region in the region of the top dead center of the drum. For improvement purposes, a specially configured laundry rejector is provided in the region of the top dead center of the drum in conjunction with a receiving means in the sleeve in order to avoid laundry items from becoming damaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Buss, Gerd Maentele, Andreas Bollmann, Yvonne Sellmer
  • Publication number: 20040088881
    Abstract: The invention relates to a laundry treatment machine, more especially a washing machine or a laundry dryer, comprising a drivable drum which accommodates laundry and is rotatably mounted in a container integral with the housing, wherein the container is provided with an elastic sleeve, covering the transition from the front opening of the container to the housing opening, around the filler opening of the drum, and wherein a laundry rejector is attached in this transitional region in the region of the top dead center of the drum. For improvement purposes, a specially configured laundry rejector is provided in the region of the top dead center of the drum in conjunction with a receiving means in the sleeve in order to avoid laundry items from becoming damaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Buss, Gerd Maentele, Andreas Bollmann, Yvonne Sellmer