Patents by Inventor GIANLUCA BOCCHINO
GIANLUCA BOCCHINO 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).
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Patent number: 11920288Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a rotating drum for processing laundry. A blower directs process air through an airflow path that includes the rotating drum. A heat exchanger is positioned within the airflow path that dehumidifies the process air. A fixedly-secured lint filter captures lint from the process air at a position upstream of the heat exchanger. A fluid spray system has spray nozzles that deliver fluid to a surface of the fixedly-secured lint filter. Each spray nozzle of the plurality of spray nozzles directs captured lint away from the fixedly-secured lint filter.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2023Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Gianluca Bocchino, Arun Rajendran
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Patent number: 11802360Abstract: A fluid flow system for a laundry appliance includes a blower that delivers process air along an airflow path having a heat exchanger. A drain channel receives condensate from the heat exchanger and fluid spray from a spray nozzle for directing lint particles to the drain channel and on to a sump for collecting fluid, including the condensate. A pump seat and a fluid outlet are integrally formed in a sump cover. A pump directs the fluid from the sump to the fluid outlet. A fluid level sensor detects at least minimum and maximum capacities of the fluid in the sump. When the fluid is below the minimum capacity, the pump defines an idle state. When the fluid reaches the minimum capacity, the pump defines an active state. When the fluid exceeds the maximum capacity, the pump directs the fluid to the fluid outlet.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2023Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Gianluca Bocchino, Roy E. Masters, Arun Rajendran
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Publication number: 20230193550Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a rotating drum for processing laundry. A blower directs process air through an airflow path that includes the rotating drum. A heat exchanger is positioned within the airflow path that dehumidifies the process air. A fixedly-secured lint filter captures lint from the process air at a position upstream of the heat exchanger. A fluid spray system has spray nozzles that deliver fluid to a surface of the fixedly-secured lint filter. Each spray nozzle of the plurality of spray nozzles directs captured lint away from the fixedly-secured lint filter.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2023Publication date: June 22, 2023Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Gianluca Bocchino, Arun Rajendran
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Publication number: 20230151527Abstract: A fluid flow system for a laundry appliance includes a blower that delivers process air along an airflow path having a heat exchanger. A drain channel receives condensate from the heat exchanger and fluid spray from a spray nozzle for directing lint particles to the drain channel and on to a sump for collecting fluid, including the condensate. A pump seat and a fluid outlet are integrally formed in a sump cover. A pump directs the fluid from the sump to the fluid outlet. A fluid level sensor detects at least minimum and maximum capacities of the fluid in the sump. When the fluid is below the minimum capacity, the pump defines an idle state. When the fluid reaches the minimum capacity, the pump defines an active state. When the fluid exceeds the maximum capacity, the pump directs the fluid to the fluid outlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2023Publication date: May 18, 2023Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Gianluca Bocchino, Roy E. Masters, Arun Rajendran
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Patent number: 11634856Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a rotating drum for processing laundry. A blower directs process air through an airflow path that includes the rotating drum. A heat exchanger is positioned within the airflow path that dehumidifies the process air. A fixedly-secured lint filter captures lint from the process air at a position upstream of the heat exchanger. A fluid spray system has spray nozzles that deliver fluid to a surface of the fixedly-secured lint filter. Each spray nozzle of the plurality of spray nozzles directs captured lint away from the fixedly-secured lint filter.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2021Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Gianluca Bocchino, Arun Rajendran
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Patent number: 11603615Abstract: A fluid flow system for a laundry appliance includes a blower that delivers process air along an airflow path having a heat exchanger. A drain channel receives condensate from the heat exchanger and fluid spray from a spray nozzle for directing lint particles to the drain channel and on to a sump for collecting fluid, including the condensate. A pump seat and a fluid outlet are integrally formed in a sump cover. A pump directs the fluid from the sump to the fluid outlet. A fluid level sensor detects at least minimum and maximum capacities of the fluid in the sump. When the fluid is below the minimum capacity, the pump defines an idle state. When the fluid reaches the minimum capacity, the pump defines an active state. When the fluid exceeds the maximum capacity, the pump directs the fluid to the fluid outlet.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2021Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Gianluca Bocchino, Roy E. Masters, Arun Rajendran
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Publication number: 20230054143Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a cabinet, a drum, a housing, a foreign particulate removal assembly, and a blower. The foreign particulate removal assembly includes a first lint filter that defines a plurality of first lint filter openings, a second lint filter that defines a plurality of second lint filter openings that are smaller than the plurality of first lint filter openings, such that the second lint filter is configured to collect foreign particulates that pass through at least one of the plurality of first lint filter openings, and a binding member that couples the first lint filter to the second lint filter. The foreign particulate removal assembly is operable between a collection position and a maintenance position. In the collection position, at least the second lint filter is positioned within the housing. In the maintenance position, the second lint filter is positioned outside of the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2022Publication date: February 23, 2023Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Rachael Kelley Acker, Pawan Arora, Ryan Robert Bellinger, Timothy Noah Blatchley, Mark Jason Christensen, Alex Perry Hoffmann, Ryan Douglas Kuhn, Derek James Morgan, Wesley Paul Traylor, Mimansa Verma, Gianluca Bocchino, Justin Q. Nguyen
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Publication number: 20230059881Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a cabinet that has a user interface. A drum is disposed within the cabinet and includes baffles. A blower directs process air through an airflow path that includes the drum. A lint filter is disposed within the airflow path and between the drum and the blower. A foreign particulate collector is disposed within the drum and is configured to collect foreign particulates within the drum. A controller is operably coupled to a motor for rotating the drum and the blower. The user interface and the controller cooperate to operate the drum and the blower for capturing foreign particulates at least within the foreign particulate collector.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2022Publication date: February 23, 2023Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Ryan Robert Bellinger, Timothy Noah Blatchley, Matthew Edward Borgerson, Mark Jason Christensen, Alex Perry Hoffmann, Ryan Douglas Kuhn, Derek James Morgan, Justin Nguyen, George Frederick Seiffert, Melissa A. Traylor, Wesley Paul Traylor, Gianluca Bocchino
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Publication number: 20210381155Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a rotating drum for processing laundry. A blower directs process air through an airflow path that includes the rotating drum. A heat exchanger is positioned within the airflow path that dehumidifies the process air. A fixedly-secured lint filter captures lint from the process air at a position upstream of the heat exchanger. A fluid spray system has spray nozzles that deliver fluid to a surface of the fixedly-secured lint filter. Each spray nozzle of the plurality of spray nozzles directs captured lint away from the fixedly-secured lint filter.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2021Publication date: December 9, 2021Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Gianluca Bocchino, Arun Rajendran
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Patent number: 11142864Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a rotating drum for processing laundry. A blower directs process air through an airflow path that includes the rotating drum. A heat exchanger is positioned within the airflow path that dehumidifies the process air. A fixedly-secured lint filter captures lint from the process air at a position upstream of the heat exchanger. A fluid spray system has spray nozzles that deliver fluid to a surface of the fixedly-secured lint filter. Each spray nozzle of the plurality of spray nozzles directs captured lint away from the fixedly-secured lint filter.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2019Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Gianluca Bocchino, Arun Rajendran
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Publication number: 20210238795Abstract: A fluid flow system for a laundry appliance includes a blower that delivers process air along an airflow path having a heat exchanger. A drain channel receives condensate from the heat exchanger and fluid spray from a spray nozzle for directing lint particles to the drain channel and on to a sump for collecting fluid, including the condensate. A pump seat and a fluid outlet are integrally formed in a sump cover. A pump directs the fluid from the sump to the fluid outlet. A fluid level sensor detects at least minimum and maximum capacities of the fluid in the sump. When the fluid is below the minimum capacity, the pump defines an idle state. When the fluid reaches the minimum capacity, the pump defines an active state. When the fluid exceeds the maximum capacity, the pump directs the fluid to the fluid outlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2021Publication date: August 5, 2021Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Gianluca Bocchino, Roy E. Masters, Arun Rajendran
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Patent number: 11035073Abstract: A fluid flow system for a laundry appliance includes a blower that delivers process air along an airflow path having a heat exchanger. A drain channel receives condensate from the heat exchanger and fluid spray from a spray nozzle for directing lint particles to the drain channel and on to a sump for collecting fluid, including the condensate. A pump seat and a fluid outlet are integrally formed in a sump cover. A pump directs the fluid from the sump to the fluid outlet. A fluid level sensor detects at least minimum and maximum capacities of the fluid in the sump. When the fluid is below the minimum capacity, the pump defines an idle state. When the fluid reaches the minimum capacity, the pump defines an active state. When the fluid exceeds the maximum capacity, the pump directs the fluid to the fluid outlet.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2019Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Gianluca Bocchino, Roy E. Masters, Arun Rajendran
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Patent number: 10662574Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a blower that directs process air along an airflow path. An evaporator dehumidifies the process air and removes condensate from the process air. A heat exchange plate is disposed within the airflow path and supports the evaporator from below and within the airflow path. The heat exchange plate receives the condensate from the process air. A sloped area of the heat exchange plate directs the condensate downward and along the heat exchange plate to a condensate drain, wherein the sloped area includes a directing surface that blocks the process air from pushing the condensate upward and away from the condensate drain.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2017Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Gianluca Bocchino, Arun Rajendran
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Patent number: 10633785Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a rotating drum and a door providing access to the rotating drum. A blower directs process air through an air path that includes the drum. A heat exchanger within the air path dehumidifies the process air. A first lint filter within the air path is forward of the drum and below the door. A second lint filter within the air path is downstream of the first lint filter and forward of the heat exchanger. The first and second lint filters capture lint from the process air upstream of the heat exchanger. The first lint filter is angled with respect to the second lint filter. A filter spray system has a plurality of fluid sprayers that deliver fluid to the first and second lint filters, respectively. Each fluid sprayer directs captured lint from the first and second lint filters to a common drain channel.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2017Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventor: Gianluca Bocchino
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Patent number: 10619289Abstract: A fluid delivery system for a laundry appliance includes a blower that delivers process air along an airflow path. A drum receives process air to dry laundry. A heat exchanger dehumidifies the process air and removes condensate therefrom. A drain channel receives condensate from the heat exchanger. A pump directs fluid from the drain channel and along a fluid path. The fluid at least partially includes the condensate. A fluid diverter valve receives the fluid from the pump and selectively and delivers the fluid sequentially to a plurality of spray nozzles that direct a flow of the fluid onto a lint filter and toward the drain channel and a fluid outlet.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2017Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Gianluca Bocchino, Arun Rajendran
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Publication number: 20200109509Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a rotating drum for processing laundry. A blower directs process air through an airflow path that includes the rotating drum. A heat exchanger is positioned within the airflow path that dehumidifies the process air. A fixedly-secured lint filter captures lint from the process air at a position upstream of the heat exchanger. A fluid spray system has spray nozzles that deliver fluid to a surface of the fixedly-secured lint filter. Each spray nozzle of the plurality of spray nozzles directs captured lint away from the fixedly-secured lint filter.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2019Publication date: April 9, 2020Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Gianluca Bocchino, Arun Rajendran
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Publication number: 20200063329Abstract: A fluid flow system for a laundry appliance includes a blower that delivers process air along an airflow path having a heat exchanger. A drain channel receives condensate from the heat exchanger and fluid spray from a spray nozzle for directing lint particles to the drain channel and on to a sump for collecting fluid, including the condensate. A pump seat and a fluid outlet are integrally formed in a sump cover. A pump directs the fluid from the sump to the fluid outlet. A fluid level sensor detects at least minimum and maximum capacities of the fluid in the sump. When the fluid is below the minimum capacity, the pump defines an idle state. When the fluid reaches the minimum capacity, the pump defines an active state. When the fluid exceeds the maximum capacity, the pump directs the fluid to the fluid outlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2019Publication date: February 27, 2020Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Gianluca Bocchino, Roy E. Masters, Arun Rajendran
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Patent number: 10544539Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a rotating drum for processing laundry. A blower directs process air through an airflow path that includes the rotating drum. A heat exchanger is positioned within the airflow path that dehumidifies the process air. A fixedly-secured lint filter captures lint from the process air at a position upstream of the heat exchanger. A fluid spray system has spray nozzles that deliver fluid to a surface of the fixedly-secured lint filter. Each spray nozzle of the plurality of spray nozzles directs captured lint away from the fixedly-secured lint filter.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2017Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Gianluca Bocchino, Arun Rajendran
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Patent number: 10480117Abstract: A fluid flow system for a laundry appliance includes a blower that delivers process air along an airflow path having a heat exchanger. A drain channel receives condensate from the heat exchanger and fluid spray from a spray nozzle for directing lint particles to the drain channel and on to a sump for collecting fluid, including the condensate. A pump seat and a fluid outlet are integrally formed in a sump cover. A pump directs the fluid from the sump to the fluid outlet. A fluid level sensor detects at least minimum and maximum capacities of the fluid in the sump. When the fluid is below the minimum capacity, the pump defines an idle state. When the fluid reaches the minimum capacity, the pump defines an active state. When the fluid exceeds the maximum capacity, the pump directs the fluid to the fluid outlet.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Gianluca Bocchino, Roy E. Masters, Arun Rajendran
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Patent number: 10087569Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a rotating drum for processing laundry. A blower directs process air through an air path that includes the rotating drum. A heat exchanger is positioned within the air path that cools and dehumidifies the process air. A plurality of air filters arranged sequentially captures lint from the process air at respective positions upstream of the heat exchanger. A filter spray system has a plurality of fluid sprayers that deliver fluid to a surface of each air filter of the plurality of air filters. Each fluid sprayer of the plurality of fluid sprayers directs captured lint away from a respective air filter of the plurality of air filters.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2017Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventor: Gianluca Bocchino