Patents by Inventor Gregory Owen Miller

Gregory Owen Miller 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: 10010238
    Abstract: A fluid circulation component for a washing appliance may generally include a substrate defining a passageway therethrough for transporting fluid through the substrate. The fluid circulation component may also include a layered heating assembly formed directly onto an inner surface of the substrate. The layered heating assembly may include a heat insulating layer disposed directly on the inner surface, a heat conducting layer disposed radially inwardly from the heat insulating layer so as to form an outer wall of the passageway, first and second electrically insulating layers disposed between the heat insulating and conducting layers and a resistive heating layer positioned between the first and second electrically insulating layers. Additionally, when current is directed through the resistive heating layer, heat may be generated that is transmitted through the layered heating assembly to the heat conducting layer so as to increase a temperature of the fluid being transported through the passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Owen Miller, John Edward Dries
  • Patent number: 9913567
    Abstract: Tubs for dishwasher appliances, as well as associated dishwasher appliances, are provided. A tub includes a plurality of walls defining a wash chamber. At least one of the plurality of walls includes a non-porous outer barrier, a non-porous inner barrier, and a porous media disposed between the outer barrier and the inner barrier. The porous media includes a matrix and one or more voids defined in the matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: John Edward Dries, Gregory Owen Miller
  • Patent number: 9888827
    Abstract: A dishwasher appliance with a tub that defines a wash chamber is provided. A bottom wall of the tub defines a volute. An impeller is positioned within the volute of the bottom wall, and a motor mounted to the tub at the bottom wall of the tub. The motor is coupled to the impeller such that the motor selectively rotates the impeller within the volute of the bottom wall. A related method for forming a unitary tub for a dishwasher appliance is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: John Edward Dries, Gregory Owen Miller
  • Patent number: 9861257
    Abstract: A detergent dispenser module for a dishwashing appliance may generally include a body extending between a top side and a bottom side. The body may include an outer surface extending from the top side and may define a detergent chamber between the outer surface and the bottom side. The detergent chamber may be at least partially formed by an upper sidewall, a lower sidewall and a bottom wall extending between the upper and lower sidewall. In addition, the dispenser module may also include at least one flow diverter extending outwardly from the outer surface at a location adjacent to the upper sidewall of the detergent chamber. The flow diverter(s) may be angled in a direction of a fluid collection opening defined through a top of the upper sidewall such that fluid flowing downwardly along the outer surface of the body is directed into the fluid collection opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Kyle Edward Durham, Christopher Brandon Ross, Gregory Owen Miller, Craig Curtis
  • Patent number: 9675230
    Abstract: A dishwasher appliance with a tub is provided. The tub defines a filter medium and a supply conduit within the tub. The supply conduit of the tub extends from the filter medium to a spray assembly such that the supply conduit of the tub directs filtered water from the filter medium to the spray assembly during operation of a pump. A related method for forming a unitary tub for a dishwasher appliance is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: John Edward Dries, Gregory Owen Miller
  • Patent number: 9596976
    Abstract: A dishwasher appliance is provided. The dishwasher appliance includes a rack assembly disposed within a wash chamber of a tub. First and second spray assemblies are positioned adjacent the rack assembly and configured for directing wash fluid towards the rack assembly. The dishwasher appliance also includes features for selectively directing wash fluid from a supply conduit to the second spray assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Matthew McDaniel, John Edward Dries, Gregory Owen Miller, Craig Curtis
  • Publication number: 20160296098
    Abstract: A dishwasher appliance with a tub that defines a wash chamber is provided. A bottom wall of the tub defines a volute. An impeller is positioned within the volute of the bottom wall, and a motor mounted to the tub at the bottom wall of the tub. The motor is coupled to the impeller such that the motor selectively rotates the impeller within the volute of the bottom wall. A related method for forming a unitary tub for a dishwasher appliance is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: John Edward Dries, Gregory Owen Miller
  • Publication number: 20160287048
    Abstract: A filter for dishwasher appliance includes a filter medium, a body extending along an axial direction of the filter, and a cap positioned at a first end of the body along the axial direction of the filter. The filter medium is configured to filter debris and other particles from wash fluid from the wash chamber of the dishwasher appliance and is attached to or formed integrally with the body of the filter. Additionally, the cap is configured to allow a flow of wash liquid from the wash chamber of the dishwasher appliance to the filter medium and may be formed integrally with the body of the filter using an additive manufacturing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Ramasamy Thiyagarajan, Gregory Owen Miller, Adam Christopher Hofmann, John Edward Dries
  • Publication number: 20160287049
    Abstract: A dishwasher appliance with a tub is provided. The tub defines a filter medium and a supply conduit within the tub. The supply conduit of the tub extends from the filter medium to a spray assembly such that the supply conduit of the tub directs filtered water from the filter medium to the spray assembly during operation of a pump. A related method for forming a unitary tub for a dishwasher appliance is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: John Edward Dries, Gregory Owen Miller
  • Publication number: 20160278607
    Abstract: Tubs for dishwasher appliances, as well as associated dishwasher appliances, are provided. A tub includes a plurality of walls defining a wash chamber. At least one of the plurality of walls includes a non-porous outer barrier, a non-porous inner barrier, and a porous media disposed between the outer barrier and the inner barrier. The porous media includes a matrix and one or more voids defined in the matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventors: John Edward Dries, Gregory Owen Miller
  • Publication number: 20160278605
    Abstract: A dishwasher appliance includes a sump assembly with a unitary filter for filtering wash fluid supplied to a wash chamber of the dishwasher appliance. The unitary filter defines a central axis. The unitary filter also has a filter medium with an inner surface that defines an interior chamber of the filter medium. A cross-sectional area of the interior chamber in a plane that is perpendicular to the central axis changes along a length of the central axis. A related method for forming a unitary filter for a dishwasher appliance is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventors: Gregory Owen Miller, John Edward Dries
  • Publication number: 20160278606
    Abstract: A dishwasher appliance includes a spray assembly with a unitary spray arm. The unitary spray arm of the spray assembly defines a plurality of outlets. The unitary spray arm of the spray assembly also defines a plurality of channels within the unitary spray arm. Each channel of the plurality of channels extends to at least one of the plurality of outlets. A first channel of the plurality of channels has a first cross-sectional area, and a second channel of the plurality of channels has a second, different cross-sectional area. A related method for forming a unitary spray arm for a dishwasher appliance is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventors: Gregory Owen Miller, John Edward Dries
  • Publication number: 20160220094
    Abstract: A detergent dispenser module for a dishwashing appliance may generally include a body extending between a top side and a bottom side. The body may include an outer surface extending from the top side and may define a detergent chamber between the outer surface and the bottom side. The detergent chamber may be at least partially formed by an upper sidewall, a lower sidewall and a bottom wall extending between the upper and lower sidewall. In addition, the dispenser module may also include at least one flow diverter extending outwardly from the outer surface at a location adjacent to the upper sidewall of the detergent chamber. The flow diverter(s) may be angled in a direction of a fluid collection opening defined through a top of the upper sidewall such that fluid flowing downwardly along the outer surface of the body is directed into the fluid collection opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventors: Kyle Edward Durham, Christopher Brandon Ross, Gregory Owen Miller, Craig Curtis
  • Publication number: 20160220093
    Abstract: A fluid circulation component for a washing appliance may generally include a substrate defining a passageway therethrough for transporting fluid through the substrate. The fluid circulation component may also include a layered heating assembly formed directly onto an inner surface of the substrate. The layered heating assembly may include a heat insulating layer disposed directly on the inner surface, a heat conducting layer disposed radially inwardly from the heat insulating layer so as to form an outer wall of the passageway, first and second electrically insulating layers disposed between the heat insulating and conducting layers and a resistive heating layer positioned between the first and second electrically insulating layers. Additionally, when current is directed through the resistive heating layer, heat may be generated that is transmitted through the layered heating assembly to the heat conducting layer so as to increase a temperature of the fluid being transported through the passageway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventors: Gregory Owen Miller, John Edward Dries
  • Publication number: 20160058263
    Abstract: Dishwasher appliances and methods for operating appliances are provided. A method includes activating a drain pump to operate at a first speed, and ascertaining a dry drain status for the drain pump after a first speed drain time. The method further includes performing a deactivation routine when the dry drain status is positive, the deactivation routine comprising deactivating the drain pump. The method further includes performing a secondary drain routine when the dry drain status is negative, the secondary drain routine comprising activating the drain pump to operate at a second speed, the second speed greater than the first speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Gregory Owen Miller, Craig Curtis, Mark Thomas Fryman
  • Publication number: 20150250374
    Abstract: A dishwasher appliance is provided. The dishwasher appliance includes a rack assembly disposed within a wash chamber of a tub. First and second spray assemblies are positioned adjacent the rack assembly and configured for directing wash fluid towards the rack assembly. The dishwasher appliance also includes features for selectively directing wash fluid from a supply conduit to the second spray assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Aaron Matthew McDaniel, John Edward Dries, Gregory Owen Miller, Craig Curtis
  • Publication number: 20130291896
    Abstract: A dishwasher appliance is provided. The dishwasher appliance includes features for determining a drain time interval or a fluid drain rate of fluid exiting the appliance. The drain time interval or the fluid drain rate can be used to more accurately gauge the amount of fluid contained within the appliance and, in turn, increase the efficiency of the appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Kyle Edward Durham, Gregory Owen Miller
  • Publication number: 20130008426
    Abstract: A bake element is used in conjunction with a remotely mounted convection fan assembly to provide a new convection cooking system. The convection fan preferably extends along a base portion of the rear wall to direct heated air flow through openings in an upper portion of the rear wall, circulate through the oven cavity, and exit through openings preferably in base portions of the side walls where the air is drawn into a bake element cavity and warmed or heated by the bake element before being recirculated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Inventors: Paul E. Newsom, Gregory Owen Miller, Paul Bryan Cadima
  • Publication number: 20110214660
    Abstract: A system for monitoring a cooling fan having one or more fans blade and utilized in an appliance having a heating element. Such a system generally includes an electric switch actuated by a magnetic field of a magnet mounted on a rotary member of the cooling fan. The electric switch can be located proximate to the magnet, such that the magnet rotates past the electric switch to actuate the electric switch via the magnetic field at a switching frequency with each rotation of the rotary member. Such a system can include a circuit responsive to an electrical signal from the electric switch. The circuit can generates a signal indicative of the status of the cooling fan, based on the switching frequency of the electric switch. Such a signal can prevent overheating of the heating elements in case of a failure of the cooling fan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Inventors: Timothy Andrew GILLESPIE, Ashley Wayne Burt, Gregory Francis Gawron, Gregory Owen Miller, Paul E. Newsom, Daniel Joseph Trice
  • Patent number: 7681582
    Abstract: A dishwasher includes a cabinet, an upper rack and a lower rack disposed within the cabinet. The upper and lower racks support articles to be cleaned. The dishwasher also includes a first spray arm and a second spray arm rotatably mounted within the cabinet. The first and second spray arms are operated based on a wash cycle. A controller is operatively coupled to the first and second spray arms for controlling the wash cycle. The controller is configured to operate the first and second spray arms independently of one another, and the controller is configured to control the wash cycle based on a usage condition of the water being washed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Timothy Martin Wetzel, Joseph Duane Tobbe, Matthew David Mersch, Gregory Owen Miller