Patents by Inventor James B. Hull
James B. Hull 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: 12149128Abstract: An axial flux motor for an appliance includes a stator yoke. A plurality of stator teeth extend from the stator yoke in an axial direction and are positioned about a central rotational axis. Each stator tooth includes a plurality of laminations that extend in the axial direction and form a “T” shaped member. The plurality of stator teeth are overmolded with a polymeric material to define a plurality of axial stator poles. At least one winding extends around the plurality of axial stator poles. A ring-shaped rotor rotates about the central rotational axis of the stator yoke. The rotor is positioned proximate an axial end of the plurality of axial stator poles.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2022Date of Patent: November 19, 2024Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventor: James B. Hull
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Publication number: 20240337063Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a tub having a rear wall that includes a plurality of structural ribs. A drive hub has a bearing housing insert injection molded into the rear wall. A stator is attached to the drive hub at stator fastening portions exposed through the rear wall of the tub. A reinforcing cap is fixed to the structural ribs of the rear wall of the tub. The bearing housing of the drive hub extends rearwards through a portion of the reinforcing cap. The stator fastening portions are exposed through the reinforcing cap.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2024Publication date: October 10, 2024Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Steven Fricke, Tarun Sai Yadav Godha, James B. Hull, Peter A. Wagoner, Eric J. Walsh, Christoph J. Miller
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Patent number: 12031260Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a tub having a rear wall that includes a plurality of structural ribs. A drive hub has a bearing housing insert injection molded into the rear wall. A stator is attached to the drive hub at stator fastening portions exposed through the rear wall of the tub. A reinforcing cap is fixed to the structural ribs of the rear wall of the tub. The bearing housing of the drive hub extends rearwards through a portion of the reinforcing cap. The stator fastening portions are exposed through the reinforcing cap.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2022Date of Patent: July 9, 2024Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Steven Fricke, Tarun Sai Yadav Godha, James B. Hull, Peter A. Wagoner, Eric J. Walsh, Christoph J. Miller
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Patent number: 11807980Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an electric motor for a laundry appliance includes a first stator having a central axis. A first rotor is in electromagnetic communication with the first stator and is rotationally operable about the central axis. A second stator is aligned with the central axis. A second rotor is in electromagnetic communication with the second stator and is rotationally operable about the central axis. The first and second stators are positioned within a common motor cavity of an outer housing. A controller regulates a first electrical current to the first stator and a second electrical current to the second stator. The controller includes a torque discrimination module for monitoring an output torque of at least the first rotor.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2022Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventor: James B. Hull
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Patent number: 11773525Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a drum that is rotationally operable about a rotational axis within a tub. The rotational axis is oriented in a generally horizontal configuration. An impeller is rotationally operable within the drum about the rotational axis. A dual-rotor motor is coupled to the drum and the impeller for providing separate and independent rotation of the drum and impeller about the rotational axis. An inner rotor of the dual-rotor motor is coupled with the impeller and an outer rotor of the dual-rotor motor is coupled with the drum.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2020Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Krati Bhargava, Fang Deng, James B. Hull, Wang Jun, Dennis Kehl, Weitao Yang
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Publication number: 20230002950Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a tub having a rear wall that includes a plurality of structural ribs. A drive hub has a bearing housing insert injection molded into the rear wall. A stator is attached to the drive hub at stator fastening portions exposed through the rear wall of the tub. A reinforcing cap is fixed to the structural ribs of the rear wall of the tub. The bearing housing of the drive hub extends rearwards through a portion of the reinforcing cap. The stator fastening portions are exposed through the reinforcing cap.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2022Publication date: January 5, 2023Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Steven Fricke, Tarun Sai Yadav Godha, James B. Hull, Peter A. Wagoner, Eric J. Walsh, Christoph J. Miller
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Patent number: 11473231Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a tub having a rear wall that includes a plurality of structural ribs. A drive hub has a bearing housing insert injection molded into the rear wall. A stator is attached to the drive hub at stator fastening portions exposed through the rear wall of the tub. A reinforcing cap is fixed to the structural ribs of the rear wall of the tub. The bearing housing of the drive hub extends rearwards through a portion of the reinforcing cap. The stator fastening portions are exposed through the reinforcing cap.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2020Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Steven Fricke, Tarun Sai Yadav Godha, James B. Hull, Peter A. Wagoner, Eric J. Walsh, Christoph J. Miller
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Publication number: 20220275565Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an electric motor for a laundry appliance includes a first stator having a central axis. A first rotor is in electromagnetic communication with the first stator and is rotationally operable about the central axis. A second stator is aligned with the central axis. A second rotor is in electromagnetic communication with the second stator and is rotationally operable about the central axis. The first and second stators are positioned within a common motor cavity of an outer housing. A controller regulates a first electrical current to the first stator and a second electrical current to the second stator. The controller includes a torque discrimination module for monitoring an output torque of at least the first rotor.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2022Publication date: September 1, 2022Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventor: James B. Hull
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Publication number: 20220263355Abstract: An axial flux motor for an appliance includes a stator yoke. A plurality of stator teeth extend from the stator yoke in an axial direction and are positioned about a central rotational axis. Each stator tooth includes a plurality of laminations that extend in the axial direction and form a “T” shaped member. The plurality of stator teeth are overmolded with a polymeric material to define a plurality of axial stator poles. At least one winding extends around the plurality of axial stator poles. A ring-shaped rotor rotates about the central rotational axis of the stator yoke. The rotor is positioned proximate an axial end of the plurality of axial stator poles.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2022Publication date: August 18, 2022Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventor: James B. Hull
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Patent number: 11365509Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an electric motor for a laundry appliance includes a first stator having a central axis. A first rotor is in electromagnetic communication with the first stator and is rotationally operable about the central axis. A second stator is aligned with the central axis. A second rotor is in electromagnetic communication with the second stator and is rotationally operable about the central axis. The first and second stators are positioned within a common motor cavity of an outer housing. A controller regulates a first electrical current to the first stator and a second electrical current to the second stator. The controller includes a torque discrimination module for monitoring an output torque of at least the first rotor.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2019Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventor: James B. Hull
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Patent number: 11355974Abstract: An axial flux motor for an appliance includes a stator yoke. A plurality of stator teeth extend from the stator yoke in an axial direction and are positioned about a central rotational axis. Each stator tooth includes a plurality of laminations that extend in the axial direction and form a “T” shaped member. The plurality of stator teeth are overmolded with a polymeric material to define a plurality of axial stator poles. At least one winding extends around the plurality of axial stator poles. A ring-shaped rotor rotates about the central rotational axis of the stator yoke. The rotor is positioned proximate an axial end of the plurality of axial stator poles.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2019Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventor: James B. Hull
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Publication number: 20210095415Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an electric motor for a laundry appliance includes a first stator having a central axis. A first rotor is in electromagnetic communication with the first stator and is rotationally operable about the central axis. A second stator is aligned with the central axis. A second rotor is in electromagnetic communication with the second stator and is rotationally operable about the central axis. The first and second stators are positioned within a common motor cavity of an outer housing. A controller regulates a first electrical current to the first stator and a second electrical current to the second stator. The controller includes a torque discrimination module for monitoring an output torque of at least the first rotor.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2019Publication date: April 1, 2021Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventor: James B. Hull
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Publication number: 20210091608Abstract: An axial flux motor for an appliance includes a stator yoke. A plurality of stator teeth extend from the stator yoke in an axial direction and are positioned about a central rotational axis. Each stator tooth includes a plurality of laminations that extend in the axial direction and form a “T” shaped member. The plurality of stator teeth are overmolded with a polymeric material to define a plurality of axial stator poles. At least one winding extends around the plurality of axial stator poles. A ring-shaped rotor rotates about the central rotational axis of the stator yoke. The rotor is positioned proximate an axial end of the plurality of axial stator poles.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2019Publication date: March 25, 2021Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventor: James B. Hull
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Publication number: 20200347538Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a drum that is rotationally operable about a rotational axis within a tub. The rotational axis is oriented in a generally horizontal configuration. An impeller is rotationally operable within the drum about the rotational axis. A dual-rotor motor is coupled to the drum and the impeller for providing separate and independent rotation of the drum and impeller about the rotational axis. An inner rotor of the dual-rotor motor is coupled with the impeller and an outer rotor of the dual-rotor motor is coupled with the drum.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2020Publication date: November 5, 2020Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Krati Bhargava, Fang Deng, James B. Hull, Wang Jun, Dennis Kehl, Weitao Yang
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Publication number: 20200283943Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a tub having a rear wall that includes a plurality of structural ribs. A drive hub has a bearing housing insert injection molded into the rear wall. A stator is attached to the drive hub at stator fastening portions exposed through the rear wall of the tub. A reinforcing cap is fixed to the structural ribs of the rear wall of the tub. The bearing housing of the drive hub extends rearwards through a portion of the reinforcing cap. The stator fastening portions are exposed through the reinforcing cap.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2020Publication date: September 10, 2020Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Steven Fricke, Tarun Sai Yadav Godha, James B. Hull, Peter A. Wagoner, Eric J. Walsh, Christoph J. Miller
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Patent number: 10704180Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a tub having a rear wall that includes a plurality of structural ribs. A drive hub has a bearing housing insert injection molded into the rear wall. A stator is attached to the drive hub at stator fastening portions exposed through the rear wall of the tub. A reinforcing cap is fixed to the structural ribs of the rear wall of the tub. The bearing housing of the drive hub extends rearwards through a portion of the reinforcing cap. The stator fastening portions are exposed through the reinforcing cap.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2017Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: Steven Fricke, Tarun Sai Yadav Godha, James B. Hull, Peter A. Wagoner, Eric J. Walsh, Christoph J. Miller
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Publication number: 20180080161Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a tub having a rear wall that includes a plurality of structural ribs. A drive hub has a bearing housing insert injection molded into the rear wall. A stator is attached to the drive hub at stator fastening portions exposed through the rear wall of the tub. A reinforcing cap is fixed to the structural ribs of the rear wall of the tub. The bearing housing of the drive hub extends rearwards through a portion of the reinforcing cap. The stator fastening portions are exposed through the reinforcing cap.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2017Publication date: March 22, 2018Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATIONInventors: Steven Fricke, Tarun Sai Yadav Godha, James B. Hull, Peter A. Wagoner, Eric J. Walsh, Christoph J. Miller
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Patent number: 9303347Abstract: A method of operating a laundry treating appliance having a rotatable container at least partially defining a treating chamber, a motor for rotating the treating chamber, and an electric heater for heating liquid supplied to or in the treating chamber by simultaneously operating the electric motor to effect the rotation of the treating chamber and operating an electric heating element to heat liquid.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2013Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventor: James B. Hull
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Publication number: 20150000046Abstract: A method of operating a laundry treating appliance having a rotatable container at least partially defining a treating chamber, a motor for rotating the treating chamber, and an electric heater for heating liquid supplied to or in the treating chamber by simultaneously operating the electric motor to effect the rotation of the treating chamber and operating an electric heating element to heat liquid.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2013Publication date: January 1, 2015Inventor: JAMES B. HULL
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Patent number: 6568017Abstract: A detergent collection tray is provided at a position spaced above a drain port in the sump area of an outer tub of a washing machine, particularly a horizontal axis washing machine. As detergent enters the washing machine during an initial fill operation, the detergent will be caused to flow into the tray and will be prevented from flowing directly into the drain. Therefore, the tray prevents the loss of detergent into the drain by functioning to capture or collect the detergent for use during the washing operation.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2001Date of Patent: May 27, 2003Assignee: Maytag CorporationInventors: Francis C. Cheo, Ted L. Hansen, James B. Hull, Evan R. Vande Haar