Patents by Inventor Kyle Edward Durham

Kyle Edward Durham 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).

  • Publication number: 20240122438
    Abstract: A dishwasher appliance includes a wash tub that defines a wash chamber, a sump for collecting wash fluid, a wash pump assembly in fluid communication with the sump for circulating the wash fluid, a diverter assembly fluidly coupled to the wash pump assembly for selectively directing the wash fluid, and a hydraulic manifold assembly fluidly coupled to the diverter assembly. The hydraulic manifold assembly includes a lower portion positioned over a diverter housing of the diverter assembly to at least partially define a diverter chamber of the diverter assembly and an upper portion joined to the lower portion to define a filter cleaning manifold and one or more spray arm channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Kyle Edward Durham, Adam Christopher Hofmann, Craig Curtis
  • Publication number: 20240099547
    Abstract: A method of determining a position of a diverter of a fluid circulation system in a dishwasher appliance includes determining a total amount of water supplied to the dishwasher appliance; activating a pump at a predetermined speed in response to determining the total amount of water supplied to the dishwasher appliance, the predetermined speed being based on the determined total amount of water; measuring a fluid pressure of an amount of sump water provided within a sump of the dishwasher appliance after activating the pump at the predetermined speed, the amount of sump water being at least part of the total amount of water; and determining a position of the diverter in response to measuring the fluid pressure of the amount of sump water, the position of the diverter being dependent on the measured fluid pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Christopher Brandon Ross, Kyle Edward Durham
  • Publication number: 20240081606
    Abstract: A dishwasher appliance includes a wash tub defining a wash chamber, a sump housing defining a sump for collecting wash fluid, the sump housing defining a drain basin, and a fluid circulation assembly positioned within the sump. The fluid circulation assembly includes a drain cover seated within the drain basin, a wash pump assembly seated on top of the drain cover, a filter cleaning manifold positioned over the wash pump assembly, and a plurality of mechanical fasteners that pass through filter cleaning manifold and into the sump housing to attach the filter cleaning manifold to the sump housing and to secure the wash pump assembly and the filter cleaning manifold within the sump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2022
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Kyle Edward Durham, Adam Christopher Hofmann
  • Publication number: 20240081605
    Abstract: A dishwasher appliance includes a wash tub, a sump for collecting wash fluid, and a cylindrical filter screen positioned within the sump. A wash pump assembly includes a wash pump impeller and a supply conduit, the wash pump impeller being configured for urging the wash fluid through the cylindrical filter screen and into the supply conduit. A filter cleaning assembly includes a filter cleaning manifold positioned proximate the cylindrical filter screen and in fluid communication with the supply conduit and one or more vertical spray arms extending along the vertical direction adjacent the cylindrical filter screen, the one or more vertical spray arms defining a plurality of outer ports in fluid communication with the filter cleaning manifold, the plurality of outer ports being positioned and oriented for directing the wash fluid at least partially along a circumferential direction about the cylindrical filter screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2022
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Adam Christopher Hofmann, Kyle Edward Durham
  • Patent number: 11918164
    Abstract: A method of determining a position of a diverter of a fluid circulation system in a dishwasher appliance includes determining a total amount of water supplied to the dishwasher appliance; activating a pump at a predetermined speed in response to determining the total amount of water supplied to the dishwasher appliance, the predetermined speed being based on the determined total amount of water; measuring a fluid pressure of an amount of sump water provided within a sump of the dishwasher appliance after activating the pump at the predetermined speed, the amount of sump water being at least part of the total amount of water; and determining a position of the diverter in response to measuring the fluid pressure of the amount of sump water, the position of the diverter being dependent on the measured fluid pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Brandon Ross, Kyle Edward Durham
  • Publication number: 20240065520
    Abstract: A dishwasher appliance includes a tub defining a wash chamber for receipt of a load of articles for washing, a door providing selective access to the wash chamber, and a camera assembly mounted with a view of the load of articles. A controller is configured to determine that a cleaning cycle has been completed, obtain a first image using the camera assembly, determine that the door has been opened, obtain a second image using the camera assembly, determine that a predetermined number of articles from the load of articles has been removed from the wash chamber based at least in part on the first image and the second image, and provide a user notification that the load of articles is dirty in response to determining that the predetermined number of articles has been removed from the wash chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Tal Abraham Ohayon, Kyle Edward Durham
  • Publication number: 20240049941
    Abstract: A method of operating a dishwasher appliance including a drain pump includes detecting a flagged water response state within the dishwasher appliance during a washing operation, ceasing a current cycle segment of the washing operation in response to detecting the flagged water response state, initiating a drain sequence at the drain pump after the current cycle segment has been ceased, determining a next scheduled cycle segment of the washing operation following the current cycle segment in response to initiating the drain sequence, detecting a non-flagged water event following the flagged water response state, and initiating the next scheduled cycle segment of the washing operation in response to detecting the non-flagged water event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Kyle Edward Durham, Adam Christopher Hofmann, Christopher Brandon Ross
  • Patent number: 11882979
    Abstract: An appliance includes a tub defining a wash chamber, and a centrifugal pump in fluid communication with the wash chamber. The centrifugal pump includes a motor housing, a motor disposed in the motor housing, and a fluid impeller coupled to the motor. A diffuser housing assembly includes a first diffuser housing portion and a second diffuser housing portion. The first diffuser housing portion includes a groove and the second diffuser housing portion includes an extrusion. A diffuser vane is positioned on the motor housing. The diffuser vane engages in the groove of the first diffuser housing portion. The extrusion of the second diffuser housing portion encloses the diffuser vane into the diffuser housing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle Edward Durham, Adam Christopher Hofmann
  • Publication number: 20230389773
    Abstract: A dishwasher appliance includes a cabinet defining a wash chamber, a sensor disposed in the wash chamber, and a controller in signal communication with the sensor. The controller is configured to adjust to one of a plurality of transfer functions in response to an output of the sensor. Each of the plurality of transfer functions is associated with a respective one of a plurality of sensor types.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Kyle Edward Durham, Christopher Brandon Ross, Richard Whalen
  • Publication number: 20230389772
    Abstract: A dishwashing appliance includes a tub defining a wash chamber, and a pump assembly disposed in the wash chamber. The pump assembly includes a first housing portion mounted to a second housing portion to form a pump housing. A cup of the second housing portion defines an air chamber. A tube extends from the first housing portion into the air chamber of the second housing portion. The tube defines an opening. An electrical wire passes through the tube and into the pump housing. A grommet is positioned in the opening of the tube, and sealingly engages the tube of the first housing portion at the air chamber of the second housing portion. The electrical wire passes through the grommet. A pump is disposed within the pump housing. The pump is in fluid communication with the wash chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Kyle Edward Durham, Adam Christopher Hofmann
  • Publication number: 20230380655
    Abstract: An appliance includes a tub defining a wash chamber, and a centrifugal pump in fluid communication with the wash chamber. The centrifugal pump includes a motor housing, a motor disposed in the motor housing, and a fluid impeller coupled to the motor. A diffuser housing assembly includes a first diffuser housing portion and a second diffuser housing portion. The first diffuser housing portion includes a groove and the second diffuser housing portion includes an extrusion. A diffuser vane is positioned on the motor housing. The diffuser vane engages in the groove of the first diffuser housing portion. The extrusion of the second diffuser housing portion encloses the diffuser vane into the diffuser housing assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Kyle Edward Durham, Adam Christopher Hofmann
  • Patent number: 11825999
    Abstract: A dishwasher appliance can include a basket configured for receipt of articles for washing and a camera assembly mounted within the wash chamber with a view of a rack assembly. A controller is operably coupled with the camera assembly and may be configured for obtaining an image of the rack assembly positioned in the wash chamber, determining whether the basket is positioned in the rack assembly, and adjusting at least one operating parameter of the dishwashing appliance based on whether the basket is positioned in the rack assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Tal Abraham Ohayon, Kyle Edward Durham
  • Patent number: 11812910
    Abstract: Dishwashing appliances and methods, as provided herein, may include features or steps such as performing a drain cycle; detecting a pressure (P1) during an activation period of the drain cycle; comparing the pressure to a first predetermined pressure limit; comparing the pressure to a second predetermined pressure limit; determining a target fill value based on a difference between a normal fill volume and a fluid volume corresponding to P1; and initiating a fill cycle based on the target fill value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Brandon Ross, Kyle Edward Durham, Matthew David Mersch
  • Publication number: 20230309780
    Abstract: A dishwasher is provided having a diverter assembly. The diverter assembly may include a diverter disk moveable between an upper and a lower position. The diverter disk may include a diverter head defining an opening and a radial center, and a disk boss attached to the diverter head at a radial center of the diverter head. The disk boss may define a disk channel extending below the diverter head. The diverter disk may further include an upper spring guide extending below the disk boss and located within the disk channel, a return spring extending below the upper spring guide within the disk channel, and a lower spring guide extending through the return spring. The return spring may have a top end attached to the upper spring guide and a bottom end attached to the lower spring guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Kyle Edward Durham, Christopher Brandon Ross, Brian Steven Riddle
  • Publication number: 20230292979
    Abstract: A dishwashing appliance may include a cabinet, a tub, a spray assembly, a drain pump, and a controller. The tub may be positioned within the cabinet and define a wash chamber. The spray assembly may be positioned within the wash chamber. The drain pump may be in fluid communication with the wash chamber. The controller may be configured to initiate a washing operation. The washing operation may include activating the drain pump for an activation period, deactivating the drain pump for a deactivation period, detecting a first water condition upstream from the drain pump during the deactivation period, detecting, following detecting the first water condition, a second water condition upstream from the drain pump during the deactivation period, comparing the second water condition to the first water condition, and directing the drain pump based on the comparison of the second water condition to the first water condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Adam Christopher Hofmann, Kyle Edward Durham
  • Publication number: 20230284861
    Abstract: A diverter assembly for a dishwasher appliance includes a housing and a cam sleeve with a plurality of passages. The cam sleeve defines a first portion of a plurality of cam teeth. The diverter assembly also includes a diverter plate rotatably mounted within the housing, and the diverter plate includes a plurality of passages and a plurality of guide teeth. Additionally, the diverter assembly includes a cam post coupled to the housing at the cam sleeve. The cam post defines a second portion of the plurality of cam teeth such that the cam sleeve and the cam post collectively form the plurality of cam teeth. The plurality of cam teeth mesh with the plurality of guide teeth at the central passage of the housing such that the diverter plate rotates relative to the housing when the diverter plate vertically translates within the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: Kyle Edward Durham, Christopher Brandon Ross
  • Patent number: 11737638
    Abstract: A dishwasher appliance having a camera assembly. The dishwasher appliance is configured for obtaining an image of the door, determining the position of the door relative to a tub of the appliance; and using the position of the door in one or more dishwashing operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle Edward Durham, Tal Abraham Ohayon
  • Patent number: 11692907
    Abstract: Dishwashing appliances and methods, as provided herein, may include features or steps such as measuring a first pressure in a sump with a pressure sensor and storing the first pressure in a memory of the dishwashing appliance as a reference pressure. Dishwashing appliances and methods may further include features or steps for measuring a second pressure within the sump with the pressure sensor after measuring the first pressure, and determining that a check valve is failed when the second pressure exceeds the first pressure by at least a predetermined margin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Kyle Edward Durham
  • Patent number: 11627862
    Abstract: A dishwashing appliance may include a cabinet, a tub, a spray assembly, a circulation pump, a pressure sensor, and a controller. The circulation pump may be in fluid communication with a wash chamber defined by the tub. The pressure sensor may be upstream of the circulation pump. The controller may be configured to initiate a washing operation including activating the circulation pump, detecting movement of the door from a closed position, detecting return of the door to the closed position, calculating a modified time period for flood detection, determining pressure at the pressure sensor exceeds a pressure threshold following detecting return of the door to the closed position, initiating the modified time period in response to determining pressure at the pressure sensor exceeds the pressure threshold, and directing the circulation pump based on measuring the elevated pressure and expiration of the modified time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Brandon Ross, Kyle Edward Durham
  • Publication number: 20230085650
    Abstract: Dishwashing appliances and methods, as provided herein, may include features or steps such as performing a drain cycle; detecting a pressure (P1) during an activation period of the drain cycle; comparing the pressure to a first predetermined pressure limit; comparing the pressure to a second predetermined pressure limit; determining a target fill value based on a difference between a normal fill volume and a fluid volume corresponding to P1; and initiating a fill cycle based on the target fill value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: Christopher Brandon Ross, Kyle Edward Durham, Matthew David Mersch