Patents by Inventor Joseph Lee McLain

Joseph Lee McLain 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).

  • Impeller housing for an appliance
    Patent number: 9890496
    Abstract: A housing for receiving an impeller is provided. The housing includes a transition duct that extends between a volute of the housing and an exhaust exit of the housing. Cross-sections of the transition duct continuously vary from an inlet cross-section of the transition duct to an outlet cross-section of the transition duct along a length of the transition duct. A related dryer appliance is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Lee McLain, Christopher Edward O'Malley, Zhiquan Yu
  • Impeller housing for an appliance
    Patent number: 9617678
    Abstract: A housing for receiving an impeller is provided. The housing includes a transition duct that extends between a volute of the housing and an exhaust exit of the housing. The transition duct defines a bend between the volute of the housing and the exhaust exit of the housing. Cross-sections of the transition duct upstream and downstream of the transition duct define a substantially rectilinear shape. A related dryer appliance is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhiquan Yu, Joseph Lee McLain, Christopher Edward O'Malley
  • Impeller assembly for an appliance
    Patent number: 9493903
    Abstract: An impeller assembly including a housing and an impeller is provided. The impeller is positioned within a volute of the housing and includes a hub and a plurality of blades. The plurality of blades are spaced about the hub along a circumferential direction of the impeller. The plurality of blades include a first pair of blades and a second pair blades. The first pair blades defines a first gap along the circumferential direction at a radially outer portion, and the second pair blades defines a second gap along the circumferential direction at a radially outer portion. The first gap is unequal to the second gap in order to reduce an amount of noise generated by the impeller assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhiquan Yu, Joseph Lee McLain, Nemetalla Salameh, Ronald Miles Johnson
  • IMPELLER ASSEMBLY FOR AN APPLIANCE
    Publication number: 20160115970
    Abstract: An impeller assembly including a housing and an impeller is provided. The impeller is positioned within a volute of the housing and includes a hub and a plurality of blades. The plurality of blades are spaced about the hub along a circumferential direction of the impeller. The plurality of blades include a first pair of blades and a second pair blades. The first pair blades defines a first gap along the circumferential direction at a radially outer portion, and the second pair blades defines a second gap along the circumferential direction at a radially outer portion. The first gap is unequal to the second gap in order to reduce an amount of noise generated by the impeller assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Zhiquan Yu, Joseph Lee McLain, Nemetalla Salameh, Ronald Miles Johnson
  • IMPELLER HOUSING FOR AN APPLIANCE
    Publication number: 20160115637
    Abstract: A housing for receiving an impeller is provided. The housing includes a transition duct that extends between a volute of the housing and an exhaust exit of the housing. The transition duct defines a bend between the volute of the housing and the exhaust exit of the housing. Cross-sections of the transition duct upstream and downstream of the transition duct define a substantially rectilinear shape. A related dryer appliance is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Zhiquan Yu, Joseph Lee McLain, Christopher Edward O'Malley
  • IMPELLER HOUSING FOR AN APPLIANCE
    Publication number: 20160090682
    Abstract: A housing for receiving an impeller is provided. The housing includes a transition duct that extends between a volute of the housing and an exhaust exit of the housing. Cross-sections of the transition duct continuously vary from an inlet cross-section of the transition duct to an outlet cross-section of the transition duct along a length of the transition duct. A related dryer appliance is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: Joseph Lee McLain, Christopher Edward O'Malley, Zhiquan Yu
  • FAN ASSEMBLY FOR AN APPLIANCE
    Publication number: 20140157613
    Abstract: A fan assembly for an appliance is provided. The fan assembly includes a first plurality of blades and a second plurality of blades. Performance of the appliance can be improved and uniform fan assembly performance over a wide range of pressures can be provided by including the first and second pluralities of blades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Joseph Lee McLain